Joseph William Kanuka
October 22nd, 2012
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Joseph William Kanuka passed away peacefully on October 22, 2012 in White Rock, British Columbia at the age of 77. Joe is predeceased by his parents, Ignatius and Anne, his older brother, Fred and his younger sister, Jean Anderson. Joe is survived by his loving wife, June Ann. They have been married for 52 years. He is adoringly remembered by his children, Lynn, Mike (Melinda), Laureen (Kelvin) Brown, Kerri (Scott) Carlson, Chris (Amanda) and sixteen grandchildren. He was a proud parent and Geido (grandfather), with each child ‘worth a million dollars, but you can’t spend a nickel of it’.
Joe was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, educated at St. Joseph’s Elementary and Campion College. He received his Bachelor of Commerce in 1957 and completed Law School in 1958. After a long and illustrious career in transportation law, and as a senior partner at Kanuka Thuringer LLP, Joe went on to become a founding member and counsel for the Western Canada Lottery Foundation.
Throughout his life, Joe believed in the benefits of education and sports, and he and his wife, June Ann instilled this importance in their five children. Among his many outstanding accolades and achievements, Joe was the founder of the Canadian Junior Football League, and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Saskatchewan Transportation Hall of Fame in 2002.
Joe was a leader, loving father and husband. 110% and ‘terrific’ were standard responses to how are you? Remembered for his strength of character, happy disposition, sense of humour and the joy he brought to others, Joe lived by example, led by example and loved by example.
The funeral service will be held at 1pm on Tuesday, October 30 at Good Shepherd Church at 2250 150 Street, South Surrey, BC
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Peace Arch Hospital “In Memory Giving” http://www.peacearchhospital.com/index.php/ways-to-give/in-memory-giving
Joe will be greatly missed by his friends at the White Rock South Surrey Stroke Recovery Branch, and especially missed by members of the Aphasia group, where Joe worked so hard to regain his communication skills following a stroke. There was never a day when Joe didn't have a huge smile on his face, valuing every day and the people around him. Around game days, he would boldly show up in his Saskatchewan Jersey or Jacket, knowing full well it would elicit a "rise" from the BC Lions' fans in the room, and he would be chuckling with delight. A true gentleman, soft-spoken and kind, Joe provided motivation to new stroke survivors, telling them, "If I can do it, you can, too!" Family was the most important thing in Joe's life and he was so proud of each & every one of them. June Ann has been his rock and she is in our thoughts right now. One thing is certain, Joe will be smiling down on all of us with that big grin of his.