Joseph Slanina

March 12, 1936 - September 8, 2024

In loving memory ~

Joseph Slanina passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, September 8th, 2024. Joe was 88 years old. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Anne of 64 years, his sisters, Mary and Bertha and his brother, Paul. Joe is survived by his sister, Mary Gerarda; his children, Joe, Michael, Lawrence, William, Trish, Samuel, Pauline, Christine, Matthew, Bernadette, Emily and Theresa; thirty-five grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family.

Joe was born to Joseph and Mary Slanina in Gilwood, Alberta on March 12, 1936. He grew up on a farm but had ambitions of working as a welder. There was no work for welders however, so in 1955 Joe went to work as an orderly in a care home in Whitelaw. This is where he met the love of his life, Anne Becher. It is also where he learned of the opportunity to work as a welder in Kitimat. He decided to make the move west where he married Anne on February 11th, 1956 and they started their family.

In Kitimat Joe's love of welding developed into an interesting and varied profession. After several years working as a welder, he was promoted to Welding Inspector and eventually Chief Welding Inspector at Alcan. Even after retirement, he continued to test welding candidates for the Welding Bureau of Canada and worked as a welding instructor at the college in Terrace. Probably dearest to his heart, he taught many of his own children and grandchildren to weld. While working his full time job at Alcan, Joe also took on part time work to help make ends meet. In addition, pursued many interests which he shared with his beloved Anne. They loved gardening, music, hunting and fishing together. Joe was an accomplished musician playing banjo, piano, guitar, mandolin, accordion, harmonica and his favourite, the violin. He also loved to sing. Active in his community, Joe was a member of the School Board, Parish Council, Knights of Columbus, Rod and Gun Club, Captain in the Volunteer Fire Department, Boy Scout leader, Little League Coach, and Canadian Firearms instructor. Joe even helped to weld the iconic Kitimat snowflake.

Together with Anne and his children, Joe built their family home in Cable Car, which was the center of his golden years. He loved to be busy and in his retirement could always be found out in the garden, tending his animals, or in his workshop welding or tinkering on vehicles. He taught his children to work hard and to help each other, whether it was a roof shingling party or processing the meat for the family's freezers after a hunting trip. He loved a good joke and eagerly debated current events with family and friends. He will be dearly missed by all his family and is forever in our hearts.

A combined celebration of Joe and Anne's lives was held Wednesday, September 18th, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kitimat General Hospital Foundation (Dementia Care Home) or a charity of your choice.