Robert James (Jim) Wilson was born August 9, 1939, at home in Swalwell, Alberta to Arthur and Matilda Wilson. In 1947, at the age of eight his family moved to Mexico as missionaries where he started school and soon became bilingual. Due to his mother’s poor health they returned to Canada in 1949 and settled in Alberta. His education was a mix of public school, correspondence, and in a First Nations school. In 1952, they moved to British Columbia where his father was ordained.
Jim met and married Marcella Riemer on June 2, 1960. During the next 12 years as their family grew, Jim worked in retail building supplies and as a general contractor. In 1971 they moved their family to Quebec, and it was at this time that Jim became involved with youth work and as a sounding board for the Anglican School Chaplain. While there, he and an Anglican priest staged a big youth event.
They moved back to British Columbia in 1979, settled in the Fraser Valley and began attending St. Matthew’s, Abbotsford. In January 1980 he began working with M2/W2 (Mentoring Towards Wholeness Togther) as a volunteer coordinator working with all Christian denominations. He had far ranging responsibilities in Matsqui, Mission, Ferndale, Kwilwexwelhp/Elbow Lake, Sumas, FRCC, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, and Abbotsford. On Sundays he often escorted prisoners to St. Matthew’s who had wanted to reconnect with their Anglican roots. He also found the time to participate in Restorative Justice activities. Jim received a Certificate of Merit from the Solicitor General of Canada in recognition of his work in crime prevention.
Jim and Marci decided to retire to Mission and built a house just a few blocks from the Parish of All Saints, Mission. During his life in Mission he has served in the community on the District of Mission Community Justice Council, Mission Social Development committees, and the Board of The John Howard Society. With his volunteer work in the community, he brings insight and connections to the All Saints Outreach Committee of which he has been a member since its inception. At All Saints he completed the four-year program in EFM, attends all Bible studies and workshops, is a greeter, Lay Administrator, and official bell ringer on Sundays. Jim has served on Church Council as Associate Warden for two years during a time of transition, was a Synod Delegate for 3 years and a member of Parish Council for nearly 10 years. As his wife Marci says, “Call it a committee and he will be there.”
In 2016. Jim was invested into the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster (ODNW) honouring him for all his work in the church and the community.
Jim and Marci are the proud parents of three daughters, two sons, eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Jim Wilson being congratulated by Archbishop Melissa Skelton November, 2016 Photo: Wayne Chose
(Obituary submitted by Judith Beale, ODNW, the Parish of All Saints, Mission)
Top Scroll Photo: Woodlawn Mission Funeral Home Webpage