Jim passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, March 28, 2009.
He was predeceased on March 4, 1993, by his best friend and love of his life, his wife of nearly 40 years, Fran, with whom he has finally been reunited.
Lovingly remembered by his brother George Warne of Penticton, his 6 children and their spouses, Judy Smith of Invermere, Mike (Amy) Warne of Edmonton, Jan (Pat) Warne of Surrey, Joni (Stu) Pigot of Summerland, Sherry (Garry) Vicze of Richmond and Carol (Mike) Warne of Edmonton, his daughter-in-law, Terry Murphy of Edmonton and son-in-law, Mike Smith of Invermere, his 14 grandchildren, Megan Smith, Fraser (Kelly) Smith & Kyla Smith of Invermere; Deanna (Ian) Warnock of Calgary; Tracy (Nestor) Hrycun, Crystal (Adam) Warne, Doni, Toni & Brett Klyne of Edmonton; Darren, Ryan & Lindsay Pigot of Summerland; Alec & Jaqueline Vicze of Richmond and his 5 great-grandchildren, Murray Campbell and Ella Smith of Invermere, Dax and Tru Hrycun of Edmonton and Addison Warnock of Calgary.
Jim grew up in Burnaby, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from UBC in 1954. He worked as a pharmacist in Burnaby, Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Invermere, B.C. during his career and took great pride in his work. He served on the Board of the College of Pharmacists of BC, as a councilor and as Vice-President.
Jim served two terms as an alderman in Invermere, followed by two terms as Mayor. Warne’s Drugs was often the scene of much community-minded discussion during this time, as he welcomed all opinions.
Jim loved community theatre and was actively involved with it in some way in every community in which he lived. He received many awards over the years and was passionate in his contributions to the arts. In Summerland he took immense enjoyment from his experience as director and “Father Jim” to his amazing group of 5 “Sisters of Hoboken” for Nunsense 1 and 2. Jim was also very happy to be able to act alongside his brother George for the first time in two very long acting careers when they performed in “Fools” in Summerland. In Invermere, Jim had a long and prolific involvement with the Lake Windermere Players – on the executive, as a director, actor, stage manager and even writing the Annual Christmas show “between-acts”. He will be remembered for his roles in The Lunch Hour, Mr. Lewis in Bedrooms, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and many more. When he wasn’t acting in a play, all the actors who were on stage were able to pick out his laugh from the crowd in the seats. He also served on the boards of the Kootenay Zone and Theatre BC and received a Lifetime Recognition award from Kootenay Zone.
Jim’s greatest pride came from watching his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and become adults, living lives they enjoy. He will be sadly missed by all of them.
His family would like to thank all who contributed to his enjoyment of life in Summerland, especially Dr. Sue Severide, whose amazing dedication and patience will not be forgotten and the staff at Summerland Pharmacy who helped to make life easier for Jim.
Celebrations of Life will be held in Summerland on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 2 pm at the St. Stephen’s Church hall and in Invermere on Saturday, May 23, 2009 from 2 – 5 pm at the Lions’ hall. Jim and Fran were both enthusiastic about the Hospice Room at Invermere & District Hospital, so the family request that any donations could be made to the Hospice room in Jim’s memory by way of the East Kootenay Foundation for Health, at the hospital or online at www.ekfh.ca