Obituary of James Herbert McKibbon

November 27, 1932 - August 25, 2021

James McKibbon beloved husband of Denise Labchuk (nee Doerfler) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at the age of 88 years.

Predeceased by Joan, my wife of 41 years in 1997, I am now survived by my wife Denise, my son James (Susan) and their 3 sons (Keegan, Reid and Rory) and my daughter Janis (Art MacKenzie) and their 3 children (Emily-Joan, Pierson and Brighton). Denise and I were married in 2008 and moved from our house into the present condo in 2015. We have had a great life together. I grew up in Wawanesa, Manitoba, the only child of Thelma and Cecil.  After high school, I attended Brandon College, The University of Manitoba and completed formal education at the University of Alberta in Edmonton with a BSc in Chemical Engineering in 1954.  Most of my working career (25 years) was spent with Hudson’s Bay Oil and Gas. Subsequently, I spent 3 years with Dome Petroleum and a further 8 years with the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority until retirement in 1997. Meeting friends from these organizations was always enjoyable. Spending parts of every summer at Shuswap Lake was a highlight of summer activities starting in 1976.  I hope my children and grandchildren will be able to continue this tradition.  I enjoyed competitive sports – Hockey, Fastball and Curling. Walking the Camino (a pilgrimage trail from Pied de Port in France to the Cathedral of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela in Spain) on a yellow pelecypod marked route at the age of 74 was fascinating and lots of strenuous exercise. I managed to walk 500 km of the 800 km route but had to resort to bus travel for 300 km because of tendonitis in one ankle. Denise and I enjoyed many trips to the US and Europe. A holiday in Madeira, a Portuguese island off the coast of North Africa was a highlight. We also went through the Panama Canal from LA to Miami.

From my perspective, I was blessed with a wonderful life.

Funeral Services will be held at Woodcliff United Church (5010 Spruce Dr SW, Calgary, AB) on Friday, September 3, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a light lunch.  Masks and social distancing will be required. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mr. McKibbon’s service streamed live at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86928588244?pwd=OERJT2NSZUFpMzgvVWUrYlFRdGpqQT09 on the day of the service. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of James McKibbon, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.