James Dietrich
November 24, 1953 - April 22, 2023
The Dietrich family is sad to announce the passing of their beloved husband, dad and brother, James Raymond Dietrich, on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the age of 69 years. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Monique (née Picot); son, Tyler; daughter, Olivia; his sisters and brother from Ontario, Angela (Heintz), Theresa (Tierney), Pauline, Ellen, Mary (Leeson), and Tom, and from Alberta, Noreen (Fortin), many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Clare and Olive (Simpson) Dietrich of Waterloo, Ontario.
Jim moved from Waterloo to Calgary in 1977 after obtaining his Honours Applied Earth Sciences degree from the University of Waterloo. Many friends from his class moved here too, and settled in Calgary where they remained friends for 45 years. Jim dedicated his career of 40 years as a Geoscientist to the Geological Survey of Canada, contributing multiple collaborative publications and award-winning research that advanced Canadian knowledge of natural resources. He tried to balance his oil and gas research with an approach in life that was gentle on the Earth. That’s how he met his wife of 28 years, when they bonded over their mutual love of geology, physical geography, and climate. They were blessed to have two children before Jim developed a medical condition of Panhypopituitarism. He lived a full and joyful life with this condition that he approached with grace and gratitude. He was a gentle soul, with a great sense of humour that surprised many. His greatest joy was his family. He enjoyed the annual family visits to cottage country in southern Ontario. He loved to chat with his wife over a glass of red wine, play chess and talk Calgary Flames with his son, and he was his daughter’s biggest fan over the years as she grew her dance career.
The family is grateful for the doctors supporting Jim’s medical condition for the past 22 years, and most recently the doctors and staff who never gave up on him at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. He fought so hard but in the end was overcome by Central Nervous System Lymphoma. Jim, may your tired body rest in peace and your beautiful soul be our angel forever.
A Celebration of Jim’s Life will be held Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 2:30 PM at Heritage Park, Railway Orientation Centre, in Calgary, Alberta.
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of James please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.