Joseph (Joe) Wesley Meany, 84, passed away Sunday December 21, 2014 in the Atikokan General Hospital with his family by his side.
Joe was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario February 17, 1930, to Simon and Violet Meany. He resided there until 1948 when he enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces and served in Korea for two years. Upon discharge he returned home and met his one and only true love, Vera (nee Watts). They were united in Holy Matrimony on June 16, 1955.
In 1962 they moved to Atikokan, Ontario, where Joe worked at Steep Rock Mine as a diamond driller, then Caland Mine as a millwright, until he settled into a career as a forest ranger with the Ministry of Natural Resources. The majority of his work involved manning a secluded outpost on Lac La Croix with his wife Vera and Mother Nature. Most of the time it was just the two of them and the wildlife, however, they were visited by numerous outfitters who canoed in and spent the night. Many will say that when they traversed across Joe’s doorstep on Lac La Croix the unrelenting hospitality they received will be forever etched in their hearts. He retired from the position after 25 years of service.
Always the outdoorsman, he could be found in the bush at his cabin working on some handcrafted wood product. He loved to spend time with family and tell stories where he revisited his passion to be traversing on the water with Mother Nature in the wild. He is well known to many for his famous kayak voyage across Canada from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta to Montreal, Quebec in 1967.
Joe leaves behind loving memories in the hearts of his beloved wife Vera; his children Michael (Brenda) & Larry (Maxine); grandchildren Michael, April and Joey; brothers Donald (Donna), David (Florence), Bryan (Charlene), and Philip (Lee); sisters June, Sheila, Carolyn and Debbie (George); numerous nieces & nephews and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his brother Harold, brother Gary and sister Helen.
We thank God for the time we had with Joe and will always cherish the life and love that was shared between us. We will miss him dearly.
A Celebration Of Life will be held in is honour at the Atikokan Legion on Saturday January 10, 2 – 4 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shelter of Hope (crisis centre).
The post Joseph (Joe) Meany appeared first on Atikokan Progress and Printing.