JAMES (JIM) ROBERT GRANT

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JAMES (JIM) ROBERT GRANT James (Jim) Robert Grant, 74, of Winnipeg, MB, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2017 at Grace Hospice, with his wife Anne Marie by his side. Jim was born on February 21, 1943 in Winnipeg to Alex and Margaret Grant. Jim graduated from St. James Collegiate Institute in 1961. In 1965, Jim graduated from University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Phi Delta Theta. Jim began work at Great West Life in 1965. In 1969, he earned his Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, F.S.A and Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, F.C.I.A. In 1998 he became Executive Vice President, Group Division - and after almost 41 years, deservedly took his retirement in January of 2006. Jim served on many committees and boards but was most proud of his work with the United Way, St. John's Ravenscourt School Board, sub-committee Board member of the Reh-Fit Centre, and CancerCare Manitoba. Jim met Anne Marie in March of 1991, on the sunny shores of Kauai, Hawaii. They flew home together and right up to the moment of his passing, they had never been apart. They married April 26, 1996. Jim was a proud, long-time member of the St. Charles Country Club and truly cherished his Thursday night golf league with the "Thursday Thrashers". Jim loved all things sports, growing up playing hockey and football, coaching the kids in hockey, and cheering them on in soccer and football. He especially enjoyed applying his actuarial expertise, in a most creative way, to the "numbers and stats" of professional sports. Jim truly loved spending time at the cottage in Victoria Beach and going for long walks with his faithful and adoring dog Missy. He also enjoyed escaping the cold Winnipeg winters for Palm Springs, California - where he would fine tune his golfing skills and spend quality time with family and friends. Jim was a humble man, fiercely devoted to his family. There was no sacrifice too large to ensure his family had everything they needed, while providing them with the opportunities to work hard to attain their goals in life. Jim was overcome with joy when he found out he was going to be a grandfather (Papa) and the arrival of his two little princesses, first Charlotte and then Kensington (Kensie), truly sustained him all through his courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. Jim is survived by his loving wife Anne Marie and their incredibly loving and devoted blended family: sons Kyle (Michelle) and their daughter Charlotte of Vancouver; Kevin (Julia) of Vancouver; Kristopher (Randi) and their daughter Kensington; Ricardo (Jariet Cabela); Daniel; and daughters Maria (Kevin Rawluk); and Monique. Jim is also survived by his adoring and devoted siblings: brother Bruce (Pat) and sister Marilyn (Bob Clasper); his nieces Candace (Brian) and their children Kaitlyn, Grant and Jack; Malina (Nathan) and their children Winston and Julia; Larissa (Brendan); Kimberly (Reid) and their daughters Holly and Hazel; and nephews Curtis; Brian (Ming) and their daughter Avery; and Doug (Kristen). Jim will lovingly be remembered by his parents in-law Ben and Mary Van Amelsvoort (Opa and Oma); brother-in-law Leon and his family, as well as his cousin June Lychek of Thunder Bay, and many close friends and neighbours. Jim will be profoundly missed by his steadfast and loyal friend of over 50 years, Al MacLennan (Lenore) of Denver, CO, as well as his truly devoted friends Alden and Lynn Vandale. The family would like to extend our grateful appreciation for the amazing kindness and support of the nurses and staff of CancerCare, St. Boniface Hospital, and the Grace Hospice - with special heartfelt thanks to Dr. Ralph Wong, Dr. Dana Moffat and Dr. Bruce Kowaluk. A celebration of Jim's life is planned for Sunday, July 23 at St. Charles Country Club, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Jim to the United Way of Winnipeg.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 15, 2017