Official Obituary of
James John Strachan
December 26, 1934 ~ June 20, 2025 (age 90) 90 Years Old
James Strachan Obituary
James John Strachan
1934 - 2025
James John Strachan died on June 20, 2025, at age 90, in Ponoka, Alberta. James was predeceased by his parents, Jim and Alberta Strachan of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
James was ordained into ministry with The United Church of Canada in 1959, and prior to his death, marked 66 years as clergy.
James was a proud Transcona boy, who met his first wife Joan when they were both students at United College. They married in 1957, and James completed a Theology degree; he later returned to the University of Winnipeg to complete a Master of Sacred Theology degree. After his ordination, James and Joan were settled in Lynn Lake, Manitoba; their eldest daughter Jennifer was born there a year later. Daughter Janet arrived in 1962, and son Keith followed in 1963. From there James went to serve in Drayton Valley, Alberta, where his youngest daughter Kathryn was born in 1965. He then returned to Winnipeg to minister at Augustine United Church, from 1966-1972. During his tenure at Augustine in 1969 he took a sabbatical year in Kansas, where he completed a residency in Pastoral Care. In 1972, James left congregational ministry to work and teach in the Pastoral Care Department at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. During that time James started running and participated in several marathons.
After 26 years, his marriage to Joan ended, and he met Beatrix Schirner. He and Beatrix married in 1987, and in 1988 he accepted a position at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. From Ottawa, he moved to the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, in October 1990. At Foothills, as at HSC, James taught Clinical Pastoral Education and was also a qualified Pastoral Counsellor and member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Upon retirement from Foothills in November of 1999, with his spouse Beatrix, James went back to the parish to serve the United Church in Banff, Alberta, for four years. Banff was James’ ‘last call,’ but he served many appointments following their move to Ponoka in 2003 (where Beatrix served for 13 years). Health issues then forced James into a ‘final’ retirement, punctuated only by occasional forays into pulpit supply.
James was an enthusiastic cook, a walker and a swimmer, a voracious reader, a traveller who enjoyed staying in touch with his grandchildren as they grew. He could be something of a contrarian. He will be remembered as a man who liked a good laugh, a good single malt, or a good debate - ideally all at the same time.
James was hospitalized following a stroke in November of 2019 and has been in hospital since that time. He died peacefully in Horizon House, at the Centennial Centre in Ponoka, where he had previously worked.
He leaves behind his wife, Beatrix; and his children, Jennifer (Balou), Janet, Keith (Kathleen) and Kathryn (Joe), along with their families. James was a grandfather to 10, and a great-grandfather to five.
A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2025 at the Wetaskiwin First United Church, officiated by Rev. Catherine MacLean. This will be livestream recorded, the link is posted below.
In memory of James, donations are gratefully accepted to the Rimbey United Church (PO Box 7, 4931 52 Avenue, Rimbey. Alberta, TOC 2J0), the Wetaskiwin First United Church (5115 51 Ave, Wetaskiwin, AB, T9A 0V3) or to Doctors Without Borders (551 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 0N8)
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James John Strachan, please visit our floral store.
Services
Donations
First United Church, Wetaskiwin
5115-51 Ave, Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 0V3, AB
Tel: 1-780-352-2157
Web: http://firstunitedwetaskiwin.ca
Doctors Without Borders
551 Adelaide Street West, Toronto ON M5V 0N8
Tel: 1-800-982-7903
Web: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca
Rimbey United Church
4931 51 Ave, Rimbey AB T0C 0C2
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