PALSEN, James Gerald George

May 10, 1955 — July 23, 2026

There are some people who quietly pass through life, and then there are people like Jim.

If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Jim, chances are you also heard a story. Maybe it was about racing a hot air balloon across Nevada. Maybe it was about hitchhiking after rafting the Grand Canyon. Maybe it was about being chased by horseflies while cycling with Johnny. Whether every detail was exactly as remembered didn’t really matter. As Jim would probably tell you, about 90% of every story was true, and the other 10% just made it worth telling again, and again and again.

Jim wasn’t just a storyteller. He was a master storyteller. He had the rare gift of making everyone around him feel like they were right there beside him, whether the adventure had happened yesterday or thirty years ago. There wasn’t an awkward silence he couldn’t fill, a complicated subject he couldn’t explain, or a stranger who stayed a stranger for very long. In fact, you probably wouldn’t have had the chance to ask who Jim was because he would have already introduced himself and spent the next few minutes proudly telling you about his family, his grandchildren, his latest project, or one of the countless adventures that made up his remarkable life.

Known by many names throughout the years: James Gerald George Palsen, Jim, Jimbo, Jackfish Jimmy, and Grandpa Jim, he answered to them all with the same warm smile.

Born in Ottawa on May 10, 1955, Jim headed west in 1974 to work at the Jasper Park Lodge. Like so many who arrived in Jasper intending to stay for a season, he quickly discovered he had found home. The Rocky Mountains captured his heart, and with them came a lifetime devoted to the rivers, the mountains, and the community he loved.

In the early days of commercial whitewater rafting in Canada, Jim became one of the pioneers of the industry. From approximately 1976 until 2005, he guided thousands of guests down the Athabasca, Maligne, and Sunwapta Rivers, eventually becoming both a lead guide and manager. The river suited Jim perfectly. It demanded confidence, quick thinking, leadership, and the ability to keep people calm while making them laugh at the same time.

Of course, no river guide’s career would be complete without a few legendary stories. There was the unforgettable day a raft folded like a taco in the Whirlpool River, leaving Luke dangling by one leg while Jan earned a spectacular black eye courtesy of an unexpected cross-check from Jim seated in the guides seat behind her. Somehow, even the biggest mishaps eventually became some of Jim’s favourite stories to tell.

When winter arrived, Jim simply traded his paddle for skis.

For decades, he was an institution on Alberta ski hills. Beginning at Marmot Basin, Jim taught thousands of people to ski before dedicating himself to ski racing. In the early 1990s he became Head Coach of the Norquay Ski Racing Team, where he helped develop many of Alberta’s top FIS athletes while mentoring countless young coaches. Although the opportunity at Norquay was rewarding, Jasper never stopped calling him home. In 1993, he returned to the mountains he loved most, continuing to coach until around 2005. Retirement from coaching didn’t mean retirement from skiing. Jim simply never stopped doing what he loved.

Throughout his life, Jim wore many hats: garbage man, bellhop, lift operator, ski instructor, ski coach, master ski wax technician, bike mechanic, river guide, paramedic, and electrician. Every chapter reflected his willingness to learn, work hard, and throw himself completely into whatever challenge came next.

The greatest adventure of his life, however, began in Jasper at Sam’s Gym.

Jim met Jan while they were working out. It was, as the family likes to say, love at first squat. They began dating in 1989, married in 1991, and from that moment forward they were inseparable. Together they built a life grounded in laughter, unwavering support, shared adventures, dedicated physio regimes, and unconditional love. Anyone who knew them knew they simply belonged together.

Nothing made Jim prouder than his family.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Janice Katherine Palsen; his daughter, Jesse Way (Scott Wilson); his son, Lucas Way (Stacey Shand); his brothers, Glenn Palsen and Todd Palsen; and his cherished grandchildren, Harlow, Quinn, Sloan, and Ryker.

Being “Grandpa Jim” was one of the great joys of his life. He adored his grandchildren, and they adored him right back. He never missed an opportunity to tell people about them. Whether sharing stories of their accomplishments, making up unforgettable bedtime stories, or simply giving them his complete attention, Jim had a remarkable way of making each grandchild feel like they were the most important person in the world. He was endlessly proud of them, and they knew it.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Lillian and Raymond Palsen.

In his final chapter, Jim faced cancer with the same resilience that had carried him through every rapid, mountain, and challenge life placed before him. Although cancer ultimately took his body, it never diminished the spirit that made him who he was.

Jim leaves behind far more than memories. He leaves behind stories that will continue to be told around dinner tables, campfires, ski hills, riverbanks, and family gatherings for generations to come. Every time someone starts a sentence with, “Did Jim ever tell you about the time…” his spirit will be right there with them.

In accordance with Jim’s wishes, there will be no formal service. His family will gather privately to celebrate his life before spreading his ashes among the mountains, rivers, and places that meant the most to him.

The mountains were his home. The rivers were his playground. His family was his greatest pride.

And somewhere, we’re sure, Jim is already introducing himself, making new friends, and telling them one heck of a story.

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