It is with sadness that the family of Joe Carswell announces his passing on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at Pinecrest Home for the Aged with his family by his side.
Joe was born Oct. 27, 1918 at Whitney, Ont. to Robert Carswell and Sarah Ann Regan, the sixth son in a family of 10 boys and one girl.
His brothers were Ralph, Gilbert, Bruce, Roy, Mark, Robert, Russell, Gordon, and Leonard and sister, Dora, and their family home was in Madawaska, Ont.
Joe quit school at a young age and worked in construction, then later as a guide and counsellor at a boys’ camp on Lake Temagami at Keewaydin Camp. Running trips to James Bay on six-week canoe trips, he also spent one winter at Cape Cod with the same group.
Then came WW II and Joe joined the Canadian Air Force, spending four-and-a-half years overseas in England, Italy, Africa, France, and Germany.
Upon returning home, he worked in Hamilton, Ont. for a year and then went back to Temagami and spent a couple of years at Keewaydin Camp.
He then joined the Ontario Lands and Forests and spent a year at ranger school in Dorsett, Ont. He then worked as a conservation officer out of North Bay and the Temagami area.
In 1951, he came to the Kenora District and was stationed at Sioux Narrows, Ont. for four-and-a-half years. He met Anne Gate from Bergland, Ont. and they were married on Sept. 5, 1952, making their first home in Sioux Narrows.
Joe will be lovingly missed by his wife, Anne, of 59 years and his five daughters, Marie Alcock, Colleen MacAlpine (Neil), Cecile Marcino (Dan), Mona Kover (Charlie), and Sandy (friend, Donna).
He was predeceased by his son, Donald (1996).
They built Woodland Freezer Service in 1956 at Nestor Falls, Ont. and lived there until 1960, when they sold the business and moved to Kenora, Ont. They bought MacKenzie Lodge in 1961 and ran a very good business with the help of the children as they grew up.
We met a lot of wonderful people and had a happy time watching the kids grow up.
Joe was a natural outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He also loved to garden, and always had beautiful flowers in his yard. As well, he was very talented in being a “Mr. Fix It”—not many things he couldn’t fix.
In 1978, they sold the lodge, settled in Kenora, and for the next 26 years they travelled by land, sea, and air to most states, Canada, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, and Alaska. They spent the last 11 years in Mexico, their own “Paradise.”
Joe had 10 grandchildren—eight boys, Jeff (Agnes) Alcock and Joey (Jennifer) Alcock, Nathan MacAlpine, Tim, Keith, and Josh Kover, and Don (Shayla) Marcino and Patrick Marcino; and two girls, Jada Alcock (John) and Jeannine (Kyle) Dolen.
They also had six great-grandchildren—five boys, Matthew Alcock (Jeff & Agnes) Gavin, Ethan, and Evan Alcock (Joe & Jennifer), and Aeden (Jenine & Kyle); and one girl, Amy Alcock (Jeff & Agnes).
Joe loved his family and they always came first to him. He certainly will be missed by all, but we are thankful for such golden memories.
It’s been a great life and it will get better.
Viewing will be held Wednesday, July 13, 2011 from 7-9 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre in Kenora.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 10 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, with burial alongside his son, Don, in the Bergland Cemetery.
Husband, friend, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, you were the best and we’ll miss you but will be together again. Rest in peace.
Your family
Online condolences may be offered at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com