Obituary of James "Jim" David Guild

GUILD: James "Jim" David Guild passed away at Rideau Park Personal Care Home, on March 14, 2013 at the age of 83 years. Jim was born October 5, 1929 to his parents Alexander and Hilda Guild. He was the eldest in the family, sister Helen and brother Donald followed. He received his initial education at Hunter School. He attended high school at Brandon Collegiate and then graduated from the diploma course in agriculture at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in 1949. In his younger years, Jim enjoyed riding horses, skiing and deer hunting in the valley of the Little Saskatchewan River which runs through the farm. Jim married Muriel Edwards of the Powerville School District on November 7, 1953 at St. Pauls United Church (now Central United Church). Jim greatly enjoyed farming. He loved working with livestock and bred prize winning hogs and Angus cattle for exhibition with his father, Sandy, at the Brandon Winter Fair. Once while training a bull to lead for exhibit at the fair, he slipped on some ice and broke his collarbone. Jim was a pioneer in cross-breeding his purebred Aberdeen Angus cows with Limousin and Simmental breeds, producing cattle that were both hardy and larger. He also encouraged the development of the beef business as a 4-H leader in the Forrest Beef Club where his son, David, was a member. He played a large role in helping his two grandchildren, Dale and Candice, prepare for the South Brandon Carroll 4-H Beef Achievement Day. In 2012, Guild Farms was selected as the Manitoba Angus Commercial Producer of the year. Over the years, Guild Farms grew as Jim purchased more land around the family homestead and his herd increased. Jim was active in the Brandon community. He was the secretary of the North Brandon Crop Improvement Club, and Chairman of the Hunter School Board in its latter years. Jim served on the Westoba Credit Union Board of Directors for 12 years, and served for 16 years on the Brandon Consumers Co-Op Board, 9 years as a Director and 7 years as secretary. He was also Chairman of the Board of the Brandon Pool Elevator Committee. When son David was old enough to take charge, Jim and Muriel took holidays to Hawaii, Florida, California and Texas. Jim had a heart attack in 1995 and in 1998 was diagnosed with cancer. In 2009, he broke his hip while working in the farmyard. The break did not heal properly and proved to be irreparable so he lived with the continual discomfort. In 2012, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Jim is survived by his wife Muriel of 59 years, his son David and partner Wendy, his grandchildren Dale and Candice; siblings Helen (Arthur) Wilson of Winnipeg and Donald (Audrey) Guild of Brampton, ON. Also surviving are cousins Janice (Roger) Newman of Gimli, Alan (Wilma) Guild of BC as well as several nieces and nephews. Jim was predeceased by his mother Hilda in July 1972 and his father Alexander in February 1974, also cousins Elaine Wiebe, Murray Guild, Betty Guild and Les Humphries. The ceremony to Celebrate Jim's Life was held at Brockie Donovan Chapel on March 18, 2013 with nephew Howard Wilson officiating. Flowers are gratefully declined, donations in memory of Jim may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Unit 3-824-18th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 5B7, Canadian Cancer Society, 415-1st Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 2W8 or to the Parkinson Research Society of Manitoba, 7-414 Westmount Drive, Winnipeg, MB, R2J 1P2. A special thank you to Dr. Butler, Dr. du Plooy, Dr. Smith, the nurses on 400 at BRHC and staff at Rideau Park Personal Care Home.