James Sigurd Stolee
James Sigurd Stolee (6 May, 1931 – 28 January, 2025) in his own words.
“James spent most of his childhood in Madagascar where his father was a Lutheran missionary. In 1948, he won a Provincial prize for painting that afforded him a summer at the Banff School of Fine Arts. In 1955, after obtaining a Bachelor of Education, and then a teaching certificate, from the University of Alberta (the latter partly thanks to course notes inherited from his siter, Elinor) there were some joyous wasted years.
With his dear friends Robert, and Verna, Willis, and his brother Leif, he took a memorable trek through Europe, ranging from Norway down to Paestum in Italy and Gibraltar in Spain. There followed years in London where he worked at the Hendon Borough Council, went to the opera and haunted museums and cathedrals. He returned west of the Atlantic to a lifetime of teaching Art at the Alberta Correspondence School. This toil was lightened by interludes in Paris, Greece and England.
He fancied himself an artist and leaves great mounds of unsold paintings. In the 1960s, he painted the Stations of the Cross for St. Stephen’s Anglican Church. Beginning with Rashomon in 1966 he designed sets for many plays produced at the Walterdale Playhouse. He was a member of the Anglican Church of Canada. In his declining years, he sheltered under the care of his brother Leif and his sister-in-law Elizabeth.”
James was predeceased by his parents Peter and Ragna (Lefsrud) Stolee, sister Elinor Emlet, brothers Erling and Leif. In Edmonton, he leaves to mourn, his sister-in-law Liz Stolee, plus nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family, as well as many dear friends, across Canada and the USA.
The family would like to thank Nera, and the third-floor staff at the Hardisty Care Centre, for making James so welcome from when he arrived in 2018, to accommodating his ongoing artistic endeavours and caring for him with compassion and kindness right up until the end.
A funeral in Edmonton, with eventual interment in the Stolee family plot in Donalda, will be held at dates to be announced.
Cremation has already taken place.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SEARIC – Society for the Education and Assistance of Rural Indian Children
James was one of the warmest, most intelligent, and creative people we knew. Our acquaintance thhrough Walterdale Theatre, was both fruitful and enlightening. His vast knowledge of art and its historical context was invaluable in the enhancement of set design, and his conversation regarding art, theatre, and history was a delight.
While we had not been in contact for quite a while, due to our moving from Edmonton, we retain many happy memories of our association, our sincere condolences to family and friends.
Chris Allen & Jan Streader.
I worked with James on a number of plays and enjoyed his outlook on the play at hand, the world in general and the big questions of life. There were so many people around the theatre in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s who were men and women of integrity, deep character, and artistic talent. It was (and is) a rare, community, to be cherished, remarkable for its diversity but also for its shared vision. James was uniquely talented; as is the case with all true artists, he was impelled to share that talent. I am grateful to have shared time with him. My warm condolences to his family.
We will miss our wonderful sweet and kind Uncle James..he was around us growing up..always lots of fun..talented and generous…
we will remember our Uncle James fondly and will keep him in our hearts..
his many paintings hang proudly in our homes..we love you Uncle James
Ginny,Karen and Kate Stolee
his nieces
I am thoroughly devastated to hear this news.
I only found out about it from the man who was my best friend in University who discovered it on the Journal obituary page.
James was my godfather.
He was one of the funniest, wittiest and most creative individuals I ever knew.
When I was about 10, James and I started writing a series of plays together about a talking Bassett hound named Sir Pythias Bassett who was always getting into messes and unusual adventures.
We wrote these plays together for the next 5 years.
I think I owe my own wit and sense of humour and writing ability to James’ influence.
When I moved to Vancouver from Edmonton in 2012, we kept in touch by phone.
Moving to Calgary in 2016 homeless and unable to find a job, we lost touch with one another I’m sorry to say.
Like I said, I’m absolutely devastated to hear this news.
James Stolee was a totally unique individual.
There will never be another like him.
So sorry to heat of James passing ,
Sending condolences and prayers to his family .
We will miss him
Maureen and Larry
I had the pleasure of working with James for many years at the Alberta Correspondence School. James was a very talented artist, but his edgy sense of humour contributed most to his sparkling personality. We had a monthly publication for our teachers’ local and James was a regular contributor with his
humorous perspectives on any number of topics. Many students sent in art projects to be evaluated. I will always link James to an orange paper mache’ tiger that sat on his desk for many years.
James was a warm and caring colleague.
Judy Michiel
We lovingly remember Uncle James’ many visits to the East Coast which often involved extended road trips North to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, South to Middle Virginia and West to the mountains of Western Virginia. On these trips he would regale my sister Susan and I with fantastic tales of Esmeralda La Chat, an evolving and never ending story he spun out of whole cloth to entertain us on the long car rides. He also recounted tales of his life with my mother Elinor [his older sister] and Uncles Erling & Leif [his older brothers] in Madagascar, as well as his many travels all over the world to explore and paint. When in Washington, DC, we accompanied him to the numerous area museums and historic landmarks such as Mount Vernon and Williamsburg. There were also trips out west to Edmonton, Donalda, Banff, Jasper and Calgary to visit my Grand Parents Peter & Ragna, James and Leif and his family [Greta, Peter, Erling and Rachel] as well as innumerable other Stolees and Lefsruds. His paintings [somewhere over 40] graced the walls of my parent’s houses as we grew up, and now most of those are still proudly displayed on the walls of my wife Kristen’s and my home. He was a funny, artistic, compassionate, well traveled and erudite soul who will be sorely missed by all whose lives he touched. We also wish to thank Liz Stolee [ne: Quigg] for the years of love and care she gave both Leif and James in their final years.
James was such a bright and gentle spirit, interested in just about everything and everyone, with an artist’s eye for detail, a natural ability (common to all the Stolees, it seems) to tell a great story, a wicked sense of humor and a truly encyclopedic memory. He knew so much and cared so much about art, music, travel, literature — especially, the people in his life, who filled his conversation and imagination as richly as if they were characters in the 19th century novels and operas he so enjoyed. Sharie and I cherish the memories of our last visit with him, when we went to the mountains with him for a few days so he could revisit some of his favorite landscapes. We’ll always remember him with love and gratitude, along with his amazing siblings, and we’re grateful for Liz, Flora and all who cared for him during his late days.