Obituary of James Thomas Third

March 22, 1933 - Vegreville, Alberta

March 1, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

Jim Third, beloved husband of Grace Helen Kasper, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2024, at the age of 90 years.

Jim was born in Vegreville, AB, on March 22, 1933, and studied at the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Commerce. In 1955, he was posted to the RCAF Air Division Headquarters in Metz, France, and his fiancée Grace flew over from Edmonton, AB, to meet him shortly thereafter. They married in Germany that same year.

They lived in the Black Forest spa city of Baden-Baden, Germany, for the next eighteen months, and in 1957, he was selected as the supply officer to open an RCAF Air Weapons Unit in Sardinia, Italy. His time in Europe must surely have inspired his lifelong passion for fine wines!

In 1965, he left National Defence with the rank of Squadron Leader/Major. He was awarded both the Special Service Medal with NATO bar and the Canadian Forces Decoration for twelve years of service.

Jim joined the Federal Government Department of Defence Production (DDP) as a production officer in the Electrical and Electronics Branch, negotiating contracts for communications systems with Canadian and U.S. military agencies, the Canadian Department of Industry, and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

In 1969, Jim was appointed to the Unemployment Insurance Commission, becoming the Ontario Regional Director of Operations East in April 1975.

He retired from Government in 1986, after 31 years. Jim was fiercely proud of his decades of public service and was warmly admired by all those he worked with. In retirement, he continued to serve the community as Director of the 702-Wing Air Force Association of Canada, and as Director of the Lethbridge United Services Institute. He was also a member of the 787 Calgary wing.

Jim is survived by daughter Jean (Bill) of New York City, USA; son Jim of Vancouver, BC, and son Tom (Christy) of Toronto, ON; grandchildren Madeline of New Jersey, USA, Sarah, and Laura of Vancouver, BC; also extended family Lorraine (Harold), Marian (Murray), Rob (Alexa). In his later years, his dearest companion Sandra, and her children Roger, and Tanis were a source of immeasurable love and inspiration in his life. Jim was predeceased by his wife, Grace, in 2017, after 61 years of marriage.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Jim’s family here.

In living memory of Jim Third, 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.