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Joe Oleksow
September 4, 1931 - May 22, 2015
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<div itemprop="description">OLEKSOW, Joe <br />September 4, 1931 to May 22, 2015 <br /> <br />On Friday September 4, in 1931 on a farm near Ketchen, Saskatchewan, Joe Oleksow was born (along with other greats that year such as William Shatner and Anne Bancroft) into a world that was in the midst of the Great Depression, or better known to some as the dirty thirties. Joe was born at a time of devastating droughts, where unemployment reached close to 30% and farmers were especially hit hard by the collapse of wheat prices. This was also a time when a fine new house cost about $6,000.00, a hardworking man might make $1,800.00 a year, and where gas cost 10 cents a gallon and bread was 8 cents a loaf. <br /> <br />Joe was the middle child surrounded by two older brothers and two younger sisters, and grew up working on the farm, rough housing with his brothers, teasing his sisters and getting into trouble with Jacob. <br /> <br />At a time when schooling was not always high on the priority list, Joe stuck with it and completed grade 9 In the winter he worked in the lumber camps in Ontario and in the summer came back and worked on the farm.. He also worked on the railways and in the spring of 1955 joined the oil patch in Virden, Manitoba. <br /> <br />Joe always took great pride in his vehicles and used to wash his car down at the crick in Virden not far from where the love of his life lived. It was at an Easter Monday Spring Dance in Virden that Joe met Ruth Hawes. They married September 29, 1955 and had 4 daughters; Michelle, Carol, Debbie and Marci in 1956, 57, 59 and 61, and in late 1966 finally had that elusive boy - Joe Jr. <br /> <br />Joe spent the majority of his career (31 Years) working for Imperial Oil starting in Alida in the latter part of 1955. Joe progressed within Imperial Oil and moved around Saskatchewan from Alida to Carnduff to Smiley and Dodsland, then moving to Redwater, Alberta in late 1969, then moving from Redwater to Red Deer and then to Swan Hills where he was affectionately known as Papa Joe at work. Joe and Ruth then enjoyed a short stint in the North West Territories in Norman Wells, moved back to Alberta to Swan Hills then off to Rainbow Lake, finally retiring in Red Deer in 1986. <br /> <br />Joe was an avid big game hunter and fisherman and it was always a contest between Joe and his best bud John Thorlacious as to who could tell the taller tale or make the most haunting moose call. Joe also enjoyed curling, music and watching sports and animal shows on TV. Joe and Ruth loved dancing, going camping, attending all kinds of rodeos, and working on Michelle and Gerry&rsquo;s farm. <br /> <br />Joe was known for the waxed handlebar mustache that he sported for most of his life. He groomed and waxed that mustache like it was a 57 Chevy. Earlier this year when he got too ill to perform the daily moustache maintenance, Ruthie was entrusted with the job of shaving, trimming and maintaining his mustache &ndash; a job that he would entrust to no other. <br /> <br />Joe loved his family, especially his &ldquo;Ruthie&rdquo;, and when the kids were young, he loved nothing better than loading the family in the car (no seat belts in those days) and going off for a Sunday drive in the country. He enjoyed regular visits from the kids and loved spending time with all the grandkids and their children. <br /> <br />Joe took ill in the late fall of 2014. He fought the good fight, going through many tests and procedures, including a long hospital stay, but continued to grow weaker and on April 6th moved to Marci and Bryan&rsquo;s where extra support could be provided. Then on May 6 Joe moved to the Red Deer Hospice where he succumbed to his illness on May 22, a time when a fine house cost upwards of half a million dollars, a hard working woman could make $180,000.00 per year, the price of gas had dropped to around $1.00 per litre and a loaf of bread cost $3.00. <br /> <br />Joe was predeceased by his brother Paul and his sister Mary. He leaves to remember him his beloved wife of nearly 60 years Ruth, children Michelle Lawrence (Gerry), Carol Oleksow, Debbie Danyluk (Len), Marci Duncombe (Buzz) and Joe Oleksow Jr. (Audrey), 14 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, 1 great great granddaughter, his brother Sam, sister Marcia and numerous nieces and nephews. <br /> <br />There are many people to thank through this journey but no words can express the family&rsquo;s appreciation to the wonderful staff and volunteers at the Red Deer Hospice. You were a blessing to Dad and a comfort to us. <br /> <br />Joe&rsquo;s family will be having a celebration of his life at Eventide Funeral Chapel, 4820-45 Street, Red Deer, on Monday, June 1, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. If so desired, donations may be made in Joe&rsquo;s memory to the Red Deer Hospice Society, 99 Arnot Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 3S6. <br /></div>