JAMES EMRE ZAM of Lethbridge, beloved husband of the late Annie Pansky, passed away at the Chinook Regional Hospital on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the age of 96 years.
James was born in Recsk, Hungary on March 10, 1913. He was born to Mary Hollo and James Zam Sr., the eldest of three children. He had a brother, Alexander and sister, Mary. He also had a step-sister, Mary. James attended school in Hungary. In 1929, at age 16, James immigrated to Canada and made the journey by himself. He arrived in Quebec and took a train to Southern Alberta. He journeyed to Three Hills to meet his father who had immigrated earlier. He found work with his father in the mining industry and later got a job with the C.P.R. and worked there for the next 30 years. He lived at Pincher Station for nine years and during this time he met Annie Pansky on a train trip from Lethbridge to Pincher Station. They were married at Pincher Station in 1943. They moved to a farm west of Fort Macleod until 1960 and then moved to the town of Fort Macleod. Over the years they had four children. Fifteen years prior to retiring James worked for Pincher Creek Sulphur Plant under “Flint Rig”. James was an inventor who obtained a U.S. patent for an alarm wrist watch and always had ideas he had wanted to pursue. He was a deeply spiritual person who loved his family and never forgot his roots in Hungary. His hobbies were fishing, coin and stamp collecting as well as gardening, watching nature shows and playing crib and cards (31). He always had stories to tell which he liked to share.
James is survived by his daughter Lily (Andy) Karkus and their children: Susan Karkus and her daughter Amanda; Sandra (Gary) Randa and their daughters: Abby and Gracie; his daughter Linda (Christopher) Cheesman and their daughter Sarah; his son Michael (Sandi) Zam and their children: Ryan, Mathew and Miranda. He also has numerous relatives in Europe. He
was predeceased by his wife Annie in 2004, a son Junior who died at birth in 1957, his parents James Sr. and Mary Zam and siblings Mary, Alexander and step-sister Mary.
Family and friends were invited to pay their respects between 6:00pm and 7:00pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2009. A Funeral Service was held at 2:00pm on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at EDEN’S FUNERAL HOME, Fort Macleod, with Canon James Robinson officiating.
