James “Jim” Bertram Brodie

January 17, 1926 – February 4, 2020

On February 4, 2020, James Bertram Brodie was welcomed into the presence of his Lord and Master Jesus Christ.  James, or “Jim” as most knew him, was sustained through life by a strong faith in the God who made him and in Jesus who saved his soul when at the early age of 17 Jim put his trust in God’s faithful plan of redemption.  Jim was a hardworking, honest man who dearly loved his God and family; he struggled with relationships, perhaps due in part to his rejection as a lad and his frequent moving around the country.

Born January 17, 1926 into a struggling Saskatchewan family with two older brothers, Jimmie, as he was then called, was the son of Clyde and Mabel McDiarmid.  Jimmie left home at the age of 6 and travelled with his loving Uncle Bert.  As Bert moved about the country working at various farms, Jimmie had many experiences and adventures.  In 1935, Bert found work at the farm and home of Amos and May Brodie of Three Hills, Alberta by whom Jimmie was adopted at 10 years old.  Jimmie began his formal education at Curlew School and finished at Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills.

Jim worked at several jobs and learned tinsmithing in Calgary.  He married Beryl Halladay and they moved to a farm in Cochrane.  Jim and Beryl were blessed with a daughter and a son, Sandra and Paul.  Jim worked at various jobs in and around Cochrane, although most of his work was found at the Shell Jumping Pound Gas Plant.  Working hard together, Jim and Beryl developed a farm at Cochrane in 1951 and another near Sundre in 1975.  Sadly, Jim lost his dear wife in 2015 but in the ten years before his beloved wife’s death, Jim could be seen daily walking the six blocks to visit her in the Bethany Care Centre in Cochrane.  This he did faithfully no matter how inclement the weather.  Jim finished his days at Wentworth Manor (assisted living) and, most recently, at Dulcina Hospice in Calgary.  He will be remembered for his delightful sense of humour even in his last days.

Jim will be lovingly remembered by, his children, Sandra (Lynn) Pickup and Paul (Jan), granddaughters, Alaina and Tara (Travis) Coates, great-grandsons, Nolan and Riley and extended family and friends.

A private, graveside service will be held at Eagle Valley Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life open house honoring Jim will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at the home of Paul and Jan Brodie, located west of Bowden.  This gathering will be from 11 am to 3 pm with light lunch provided.  Friends and family are invited to come and go as they like, visit and reminisce.

Arrangements entrusted to Cochrane Country Funeral Home, Florence (Flo) Simpson, Funeral Director. Ph: 403-932-1039. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James “Jim” Bertram Brodie, please visit our flower store.