Obituary of James Ivan Sailer
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James Ivan Sailer was born on the farm 5 miles north of Trochu on December 30, 1938. He was the fifth of six children born to Henry and Emma Sailer. He attended school in Huxley for grades 1-9. At age fifteen, he quit school and joined the farming operation with his Dad and brother Ray.
In March 1959, at age 20, Jim gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ after which he felt God led him to Bible School in Calgary. When Jim left for Bible School, the crops were still in the field because of too much snow and moisture. But when he came home at Christmas, his Dad gave him his cheque for the crop.
The next year, he joined the Trochu Baptist Church, and for the next 50 years, he served in various areas including church board and leadership.
Jim met Ruby Martichenko at Bible School on a blind date, and they were married on June 13, 1964. That Christmas morning with the temperature being 38 below, there was a fire and they lost their barn and dairy operation. Shortly after, Jim decided to join the Trochu Fire Department which he was part of for the next 13 years.
Jim and Ruby had two children, Rhonda in 1967 and Mark in 1969. Both kids participated in church activities and school/community sports throughout their teenage years.
Jim was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis when he was 33 years old. He continued to farm, but when he turned 50, he had to quit because the pain was too much.
Jim loved his cattle and raised Purebred Polled Herefords for many years and always maintained a small herd of cows. In 1973, he joined the 4H club the first year it was organized in Huxley. He won the efficiency award and attended 4H week at Olds College. He was a member for 7 years and had two champion calves.
When Mark and Rhonda joined 4H, Jim was asked to be the 4H leader which he did for 7 years. He served on the local 4H Council, and the District and Provincial Council for 15 years.
Jim and Ruby had the opportunity to travel to many places including Hawaii, Israel, Arizona, Texas, New Orleans, Costa Rica, Florida, California, Mexico, the Maritimes, Ontario, and Vancouver Island.
On their trip to Israel, Jim had David Mainse (from 100 Huntley Street) pray for his health, but nothing happened. When he got back to Alberta, he was so depressed from the pain that he was admitted to the hospital for 10 days. He was reading his Bible one morning in the hospital and when everyone left the room, suddenly, something like a fire went through his body and the Holy Spirit touched him. From that day on, the pain got less and less and less. Jim loved to share his testimony with others.
In May of 1999, Jim and Ruby moved to town to the new house they built, and they enjoyed living in Trochu.
Jim and Ruby did two mission trips to Kona at the University of Nations for a month working in the kitchen and maintenance. They also spent a month in Maui working at the John Haggai Institute doing janitorial work. These trips were awesome, and they had great fellowship there.
On their 25th anniversary, Jim and Ruby took a cruise to the Caribbean Ocean. On their 40th anniversary, they took an inspirational cruise to Alaska with Charles Stanley.
Jim loved music and they attended many music events all over Alberta. He also enjoyed bowling, curling, playing pool, and card games.
He served as President of the Trochu Drop-In Centre for six years.
Jim joined the Gideons and was an active member for 20 years. He gave New Testaments to Grade 5 classes in many schools and gave many church presentations. Because of the arthritis in his hands, he was known to the kids as the man with the crooked hands. But due to a heart attack and open-heart surgery, Jim had to step back from leadership. To this day, he still supported the Gideons giving monthly donations to the organization.
Jim was blessed to become a grandfather in 1993 when Karleigh Rae was born. After that he was blessed with 5 more grandkids, Jayden, Tristan, Hunter, Ally and Tyson. Grandpa Jim loved his grandkids and did everything for them. Grandpa and grandma were always at their hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and baseball games as well as dance recitals, school concerts and graduations, supporting them as much as they could!
Ruby took care of Jim in his final years as his lungs and heart declined. Jim’s wish was to be in his home as long as possible, but towards the end, he was ready to be in Heaven with Jesus. Before he passed, he was telling us farming stories and how much he loved to be on the tractor. He was surrounded by his family when he passed away peacefully in the Three Hills Hospital on October 16, 2022.
Jim will be lovingly remembered by his wife Ruby; younger sister Donna (Dan Specht); 2 children Rhonda (Terry Adrian) and Mark (Rachel Sailer); 6 grandchildren Karleigh (Daniel Jackman), Jayden, Tristan, Hunter, Ally, and Tyson.
Donations in Jim’s honour may be made to The Gideons International.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of James
Ivan
Jim
Sailer 1938 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Trochu, Province: Alberta