GERDING, JOSEPH “JOE” OF VULCAN, ALBERTA PASSED AWAY AT THE FOOTHILLS HOSPITAL, CALGARY, ALBERTA MARCH 15, 1994 AT THE AGE OF 80 YEARS.
JOE WAS BORN JULY 19, 1913 AT PANDORA, ALBERTA WHERE HE ATTENDED SCHOOL. THEY CAME TO THE VULCAN DISTRICT IN I925 WHERE HE ATTENDED SAND PIT SCHOOL. JOE WORKED FOR MANY FARMERS IN THE AREA. HE MARRIED LORNA RICHARDSON IN 1941 AND THEY FARMED IN THE BERRYWATER DISTRICT OF VULCAN UNTIL RETIRING IN THE EARLY 1980’S. THEY CONTINUED TO LIVE ON THE FARM UNTIL MOVING TO VULCAN IN 1993.
JOE LOVED HIS FAMILY, CAMPING AND BOATING WITH THEM, HE ENJOYED FAMILY REUNIONS AND TO TRAVEL TOGETHER WITH LORNA TO MANY PLACES INCLUDING EUROPE, HAWAII, ALASKA AND ON MANY UNITED STATES BUS TOURS.
JOE LOVED MUSIC AND PLAYED BOTH SAXOPHONE AND VIOLIN. JOE AND LORNA SHARED THIS LOVE AND ATTENDED MANY MUSICAL CONCERTS IN CALGARY AND LETHBRIDGE. GRANDSON JEFFRY ADDED TO THEIR PLEASURE BY EXCELLING AS A DRUMMER AND JOE RECENTLY ATTENDED JEFF’S BAND CONCERT IN CALGARY. JOE PLAYED IN VARIOUS DANCE ORCHESTRAS IN THE AREA AND WAS PART OF ARTHUR DEE’S ORGANIZATION OF THE VULCAN COUNTY BAND IN 1963 AND STILL BLOWING STRONG WHEN IT WAS DISBANDED IN 1973. SINCE MOVING INTO TOWN, HE JOINED “SANDERSON’S ARMY” AT THE PETER DAWSON LODGE WITH HIS VIOLIN AND WAS A FAITHFUL ACCOMPANIST AT SUNDAY MASS.
JOE WAS A MEMBER OF ST. ANDREW’S PARISH, A CHARTER MEMBER OF FR. MARIEN COUNCIL OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, A LIFE MEMBER AND PAST EXALTED RULER OF B.P.O.ELKS #121 VULCAN AND A MEMBER OF THE VULCAN DROP-IN-CENTRE.
BELOVED FATHER OF A DAUGHTER EDNA (KEN) WILSON AND A SON KEN (KAREN) GERDING ALL OF CALGARY, THREE GRANDCHILDREN ORLENA (STUART) WEAVER, JEFF AND TIM, A GREAT GRANDSON BRANDON, THREE BROTHERS RAYMOND OF CALGARY, ARNOLD (FRANCES) OF RICHMOND, B.C. AND BOB OF CARMANGAY, TWO SISTERS MARGARET (LOUIS) SHAW OF VULCAN AND NORMA (NAT) O’HARE OF CALGARY, AND NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS.
HE WAS PREDECEASED BY HIS WIFE LORNA IN 1993, A SISTER EILEEN IN 1972, A BROTHER CECIL, HIS FATHER JOSEPH WILLIAM AND MOTHER ANNA.
PRAYERS, FRIDAY MARCH 18, 1994 AT 7 P.M. AT ST. ANDREW’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, VULCAN.
FUNERAL MASS, SATURDAY, MARCH 19 1994 AT 11 A.M. ALSO AT ST. ANDREW’S WITH FR. CONRADO BELOSO CELEBRANT.
JOE WILL BE BURIED AT VULCAN CEMETERY, ON THE DAY HIS CHURCH SETS ASIDE TO HONOR THE PATRON SAINT OF CANADA, “ST. JOSEPH”.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, IF FRIENDS, SO DESIRE DONATIONS TO THE ALBERTA HEART & STROKE FOUNDATION 1825 PARK RD. S.E., CALGARY T2G 3Y6 WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME.