We regret to advise of the death of Captain James Frederick “Jim” Stewart, CD (Ret’d), peacefully at home in Mill Bay BC on 31 August 2020 at age 75 after a battle with multiple myeloma. Jim had served 43 years of distinguished service with the Royal Canadian Engineers and was the longest serving unit member of 6th Field Engineer Squadron in its history.
Jim was born in 1945 in Winnipeg MB, the eldest of three siblings. He came from a military family - his grandfather Sergeant James Linden Stewart served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and his father, Captain James Warren Stewart, served in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. His family moved to Saskatoon, then to Toronto and then to Edmonton where Jim enrolled in the Loyal Edmonton Regiment in 1962. His family next moved to North Vancouver where Jim enrolled in 6th Field Engineer Squadron in September 1962.
Jim rose rapidly through the ranks. He was promoted to Corporal in October of 1963 and in 1965 he graduated from Delbrook Senior Secondary School. Jim was promoted to Sergeant in 1971 and Warrant Officer in 1972. He was promoted to Master Warrant Officer and appointed Squadron Sergeant Major in 1975. After serving just over a year as Squadron Sergeant Major Jim was commissioned in 1976 in the rank of Lieutenant . He was promoted to Captain in 1978 and he held that rank for 27 years until his retirement in 2004 when he moved to Mill Bay on Vancouver Island.
During Jim’s Reserve Army service he worked for various engineering companies and government agencies. These included the British Columbia Provincial Department of Highways (on both the Courtenay-Campbell River By-pass and the Stewart Cassiar Highway), The District of North Vancouver as a Construction Inspector and the Federal Department of Transport and the Federal Department of Fisheries & Oceans as a draughtsman.
Jim left the government in 1980 and became a self-employed home renovation contractor in Victoria until his second retirement in 2003. During the time he lived in Victoria Jim commuted by road and ferry to and from the unit in North Vancouver as often as he could. He would normally show up on the Thursday night before an exercise, attend the weekend exercise and then return to Victoria Sunday night.
Always available to others, Jim would often be found speaking with the many people in his community whom he came across in his daily outings. An avid walker, he took pleasure in exploring nature on Vancouver Island and in New Zealand. He found rest and satisfaction in his shop, where he crafted amazing works of wood, and in his kitchen where he prepared many great meals. Jim was always available to teach anyone who desired to learn.
A Celebration of Jim’s Life will be held at a later date. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home. {khSep2020}
