July 2, 1947-February 3, 2024
Vienna Wilson and family are heartbroken and sad to announce the passing of their husband and stepfather and brother-in-law. Joe passed away quietly and peacefully at Royal Victoria Hospital on Saturday, February 3, 2024.
Joe was a true Barrie boy, although he lived for many years in Parry Sound, Ontario where he started a law practice with his friend, David McTurk.
Joe was born at the Royal Victoria Hospital back when it was on Ross Street. He went to Codrington Public School and Barrie North Collegiate. He was particularly proud to have graduated at Barrie North Collegiate and was always happy to run into others who had also graduated from North. With some solid urging from his mother, Margaret, he furthered his education and graduated from both Waterloo Lutheran University and Western University and came out with a BA and his law degree. Joe was very successful practicing law in the small town of Parry Sound where his law practice consisted of many different facets of the law.
After practicing for many years in Parry Sound, and taking on many different roles in connection with his profession, Joe was appointed a Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice on June 20, 1997. He was the Judge in Parry Sound for approximately 8 years before deciding to move back to his home town of Barrie. He travelled to various Courts throughout his career and he welcomed challenges wherever he was asked to go.
Joe retired as a full time Judge in 2015 but continued on as a per diem Judge, continuing to be assigned very challenging and significant trials which lasted until the last day that he was able to sit as a Judge, and he retired at 75.
Unfortunately, Joe was not aware that he would soon face some serious health issues which prevented him from planning the trips and other things he looked forward to during retirement. It wasn’t long after retiring that Joe wasn’t able to attend the hockey games of his Barrie Colts. He was an ardent fan and great supporter of the team, having seasons tickets for many years. One particular evening while waiting for the game to start, Joe experienced a very serious cardiac issue and he collapsed to the ground. There was a paramedic about ten steps away from him and a defibrillator about the same distance away. They were able to revive him and even though he said he felt well enough to take his seat and watch the hockey game, they were able to convince him to go to hospital. He received excellent care at RVH and from specialists in other hospitals and was able to continue meeting with friends for coffee, texting during hockey games and watching every sport that was televised!!!! One of his very best friends was hospitalized but during every hockey game the texts were flying back and forth between the two.
Unfortunately, Joe’s great friend predeceased him, but at his Celebration of Life, just a few weeks before his own passing, Joe was able to speak magnificently despite having his own challenges. That was a very special moment for many of Joe’s colleagues and friends who were in attendance that day.
We had a plan to travel Route 66 however, we were only able to travel Highway 400 to Parry Sound where we did enjoy some awesome times at our cozy cottage on Georgian Bay.
There is a large hole in my life where a special, generous, intelligent man took up space for many, many years. He will be missed beyond words but that unique look he gave, not quite a smile, but to those of you who knew him, you know the look I mean, it will stay with me always. It will stay with you always. Joe will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him, he was an awesome friend to many, always concerned about their welfare and that of their parents, their children and wanting only the best for them.
A Celebration of Life has been planned for Joe. We invite you to visit on Friday evening, April 19, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm at Steckley Gooderham on Worsley Street in Barrie, Ontario and then on Saturday, April 20, 2024 we will celebrate Joe’s life and meet at Steckley Gooderham, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
In place of floral tributes, you may make a donation in Joe’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, to which we are happy to support for their good work, or to the Barrie Hospice, where many of Joe’s friends were so well taken care of.
At this time, we would like to give great thanks to the doctors and nurses and staff who took such great care of Joe at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie and Southlake Hospital in Newmarket. The cardiac care staff at each facility were amazing to Joe. Most recently, we would like to thank Nurse Practitioner Morgan Krautner at the Heart Function Clinic at RVH. You made this journey as smooth as it could be, you gave Joe your heartfelt support without reservation and when I needed the most, you were there. I’ll never forget you and what you did for Joe.
He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more. Rev. 21:4.
Online memories and condolences may be forwarded via www.steckleygooderham.com