Obituary - James C. Haland

Vivian, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. May you find peace in your memories. Shelly MacPhail

My heart goes out to you, viv, and to Kyle, Kristen, and aria and Merritt. Papa will always be in your hearts forever!!

Thoughts are with you Vic.

Vivian and Family,
I was very saddened to hear of Jim's passing. I can recall the times when you and Jim first moved to Medicine Hat. It was the school year of 1975-1976. You and Jim proved to be a very healthy addition to the School District culture and the Medicine Hat community. In those early years, I can recall Jim as being the personification of fun. You and Jim seemed destined to attend all of the "post-football" game parties. My, those were fun times! When I reflect back on those years, the football team didn't win any games, but we had just great football parties. Grey Cup parties were good, too. (I always wonder what those parties would have been like if we actually won a few games.)

Jim was a great story and joke teller. In later years, I loved listening to Jim and Bruce Brandt telling the most off-colour jokes. Gene Sailer remained the "master of the pun."

Jim's life went beyond humour and story telling. He was an outstanding educator. The late Les Cluff described Jim as the "salt of the earth." Medicine Hat is going to miss Jim.

Unfortunately, I am unable of attend Jim's celebration of life, as we no longer live in Medicine Hat, but pleased be assured that I will be thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.

Sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. His contribution to Tuesday nights will be
missed. I am in Florida so will miss his service. Jim was a nice man. I first recall talking to Jim at length when he was hospitalized many years ago. He was a pleasure to
talk to and I enjoyed his company I wish the best for you at this difficult time.

God bless the family

I'm so sorry to hear this, Vivian. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

Our condolences to all.

Viv, I am so sorry to hear of Jim's death. My thoughts are with you and your family at this very difficult time. I remember Jim fondly as our vice-principal at Crestwood school; a kind, supportive, good-humoured colleague. He often made our difficult jobs a little easier with his sage advice and positive disposition. He will be missed by many.

So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family

So sorry to hear of Jim's passing. May you be comforted by the love of family and friends and the memories you have of Jim.

Vivian, we are so very sorry to hear of Jim’s passing our thoughts and prayers are with you Kyle, Kristin and your precious grandchildren. We are out of the country, so unable to attend the funeral.

Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

Dear Viv,
Please accept my condolences on the death of Jim. I will always cherish the friendship we had over
many years in Medicine Hat. May Jim rest in peace.
May God bless you and keep you in His loving care.

Vivian, Kyle, Kristin and Family,
On behalf of the George Family, please accept our heartfelt condolences at the loss of Jim. One of my fondest memories as an educator was the years Jim and I shared an office at Crestwood School. I came to appreciate so very much about Jim: his amazing people skills; his capacity to work so well with elementary students; his excellent teaching and administrative skills; his ability to develop lasting friendships with colleagues; his delightful sense of humor and love of laughter; his kindness and thoughtfulness. We had fun at work, accomplished much good on behalf of the students and school and became good friends. I am deeply saddened by his passing.
It is our prayer that you will be comforted and that the sadness will eventually be replaced by the fondest of memories.
Warmest Regards,
David

Thinking of you Vivian at this sad time My most sincere sympathy

Viv, Kyle & family - we are saddened to learn of Jim's passing. What great neighbors you were to us for almost 20 years! We will remember his wonderful personality & those cigars of his - we always knew when he was out in the back yard! We pray for comfort & peace for you all during the coming days!

Vivian and Family
So sorry for your loss.

Cathy and I were so very saddened to hear of Jim’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Jim was a close and dear childhood friend, beginning in the 1950’s. While our lives took us in different directions for a time, we reconnected in the early 1970’s when I joined Jim on staff at the Glendon School.

At the interview for my first teaching job Jim greeted me in the hall with, ”How the hell are you?” He was so welcoming and was a great mentor to me. It should be no surprise that we reconnected immediately through sports and coaching school teams. Do I dare mention the odd bonspiel we went to??? As a fellow staff member, Jim was always willing to help me and I enjoyed being with Jim both at work and outside school. Like me, everybody loved Jim, students and staff alike.

In later years, when you and Jim moved to Medicine Hat our connection became distant physically, but he remained close in my memories. My brother, David, and I ended up farming a good portion of the farm Jim grew up on. I only had to look across the fence to the home yard to experience a flood of fond memories of boyhood adventures we had there. I treasure those times with Jim.

May memories of Jim bring you peace. Kindest regards,
Frank Sandmeyer

Viv, Kyle and Kristin,

Deepest sympathies to all of you. May the memories of good times help to see you through your loss.

Vivian,
I shall be thinking of you and Kyle and his family tomorrow as you bid Jim a final good-bye. I am certain his farewell ceremony will befit the fine man that Jim was. Blessings to you all.
Elaine and Peter’s spirit

Vivian,
I was so glad to spent some time with you last night. I’m sorry I can’t be there to support you today, due to a medical appointment. I know you are blessed to have many close friends and family and they will be your rock in the weeks and months to come. They will share your funny stories, memories and tears which will give you comfort and strength at this very sad time. My prayers are with you. Linda C.

Haland Family,
Please accept my condolences for your loss. Jim was a great person to work with, always smiling and eager to help with anything for anyone at anytime. Please cherish the good memories.

Condolences to Vivian and Family.
As a young teenage boy (early 70's) growing up in the village of Glendon, Jim was one of my mentors. Jim was an avid sportsman and had the ability to bring the best out of people. He loved to play baseball and would recruit us young boys to make a team and go back to his Eastbourne stomping grounds to play against his childhood friends. And can I say he did create a friendly rivalry between Eastbourne and Glendon. We all enjoyed these summer good times. Later, we all appreciated Jim's commitment a dedication to coaching High School volleyball to provincial levels.
May the powers above guide his spirit.

Our sincerest condolences! Roger and Yvonne.