James B. Arnold
ARNOLD, James (Jim) Brian – Passed away peacefully on April 8, 2026, at the age of 82 at the Guelph General Hospital, surrounded by the warmth and love of his family.
Jim will be terribly missed by his wife of 29 years Vickie (Elvic Elizan), his sons, James Sharpe (Lindsey) and Jeffrey Sharpe (Amy), his twin sister, Lynda D’Aoust, and her husband Mark. He will be remembered fondly by his grandchildren, Halen, Malcolm, Hunter, Dustin, Olivia, Henry, Carter, Kolton and Kayden. Jim will be missed by his nephew Michael D’Aoust (Sheri), his niece Sharon Hagen (Rob), and many extended family members.
He will be dearly missed by his family in the Philippines — his mother-in-law, Mom Rufina; his in-laws Ely and El, Maria Joy, Ellen, and Ivy; his nephews Clenton Jay, Koa (Kokong), and Gael; and his nieces Shaira, Victoria and Bianca. He will also be lovingly remembered by his “adopted daughters,” the nieces who fondly called him their Daddy Jim; Liana, Lavinia, Zahara, and Sophie, also by Auntie Mercy and Uncle Jun, his cousins in the Philippines and California, and his many Filipino friends in Guelph.
Music was at the core of Jim’s life, and he will be especially remembered by the fellow musicians and friends he considered family.
Born on April 15, 1943, Jim deeply valued the connections he built throughout his life, particularly through his love for music and travel. A proud graduate of the University of Guelph, he enjoyed a vibrant career as an agricultural engineer, leading international projects in Tanzania, Senegal, and Sri Lanka. Travel remained a constant for Jim and Vickie; including a trip to the Philippines and six other countries this past November, Jim explored more than 50 countries in total.
Whether known as James or simply “Jim,” he was always smiling and loved a good laugh, and his passing leaves a void in the hearts of many. A man who cherished his musical community and friends, Jim’s memory will be honored by the songs sung and the stories told by those who were lucky enough to walk alongside him.
Please join us at The Royal Canadian Legion Br.234 Guelph Ontario on June 20th, 2026, to celebrate the life of Jim Arnold. Stories and music will be shared from 12:00 – 4:00PM. You are welcome to bring photos or stories to share. Please feel free to share this invitation, all are welcome. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
A tree will be planted in memory of James (Jim) B. Arnold in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.