He is survived by his wife Margaret of 56 yrs., son Craig (Leanne), & daughter Lisa (Stacey), three wonderful grandchildren, Zachary, Nicholas & Makenna, sister-in-law Elaine & many relatives & friends. Joe’s greatest pleasure was being with the grandchildren, whether helping take the boys to their 6 am hockey practices or watching their games or getting Makenna to her swim lessons. The back yard was put to good use practicing ball.
Joe was the youngest son of Mary & Harold Whitaker of Huxley, Alberta. Joe’s brother Ronald passed away in 1967 as a result of a work accident. In the first few years of his school life Joe was taught by his mother, a teacher, then took a school bus into Huxley then Trochu, graduating from Trochu Valley High School. Joe’s goal was always to join the RCMP. He applied at the Three Hill Office where he was interviewed by Corporal Norman Inkster. After completing the initial requirements Joe was told to wait a year & gain some weight as he was too skinny. Joe waited the year, reapplied & was accepted into the RCMP September 6, 1962, being sworn in at Edmonton, Alberta, & advised to report to N Division in Ottawa for police training. Joe was part of Troup 5, N Division from September 1962 to May 1963. Close friends were made in Troup 5 & there was always a turn out for their 40th, 45th 50th & 55th reunions. All the reunions were special but the 40th especially as many of the troupe had not seen each other since training. Joe’s first posting was at Kamloops, BC. & Joe was happy to be coming west. Joe bought a car in Ottawa, & found 2 university students to accompany him to help with the driving. Joe was given a week to drive to Kamloops, however with 2 other people to help drive he did not take a week, but instead took just over 3 days to travel from Ottawa to home in Alberta. Joe was required to sign in at an RCMP office every 24 hours, however he signed in earlier than the 24 hrs., number 1 was at Thunder Bay, Ontario, number 2 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, number 3 Regina, Saskatchewan (dropped 1 student here), number 4 Medicine Hat, Alberta (2nd student here) & number 5 Lethbridge, Alberta then at Three Hills near the farm. Joe was home for 2 days then left for Kamloops, BC which took 1 day as the Rodgers Pass was open. Needless to say the RCMP were shocked at the fast time Joe took to come west. They were unaware that Joe had two other drivers with him.
Joe’s RCMP Career took him to different detachments in BC, then he transferred to FS&S in Victoria, the headquarters, then Vancouver when headquarters relocated to 33rd & Heather. Joe’s last posting was at Vancouver International Airport from which he retired June 19, 1996. Many life long friends were made within the Force & within the communities he served.
Joe was very community minded & usually helped with the United Way. He attended many RCMP functions as well as bar tending at the RCMP’s Heather Stables Friday evenings. Joe participated in sports such as curling, golf, & ball. He regularly watched hockey & football games & was a fan of the Vancouver Canucks & BC Lions. Joe also liked cards with crib & the monthly poker game being favorites. As a curler a highlight for Joe was when our daughter was the 3rd on the McDonald Curling Team representing British Columbia at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sudbury, Ontario. Being a non swimmer Joe marveled at how our son did River Raft Guiding on the Thompson River near Spences Bridge, BC.
Where ever we went Joe always knew someone, including during some International travels.
Joe’s ashes will rest at Victory Memorial Park.
Poem "The Dash" -by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak at a funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning… to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars… the house… the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.
To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile… remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
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