William Joseph “Joe” McCombe, of Lomond, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday April 11, 2003 at the age of 89 years.
Joe was born on May 22, 1913 at Alcan near Taber, Alberta. He grew up on the homestead west of Travers and completed grade 8 at Yetwood School before taking a mechanics course in Calgary. Joe married Ragna Nelson on March 31, 1949, farmed the homestead until its sale in 1951 and moved to central Alberta in 1953. He worked on various farms before returning to Lomond in 1966 where he and his wife were caretakers of the Lomond school for 15 years before retiring in 1981. Joe and Ragna enjoyed a trip to Ireland in 1980 to visit Joe’s relatives and he continued to correspond with a couple of cousins still living there. They were together for 51 years, and raised a family of sis children.
Joe was a practical, hard working, independent, gentle, loving and caring man, ready with humorous quips for any occasion. He loved the outdoors, farming and working with machinery. Remodeling abandoned antique cars and making them run was his special hobby.
Joe was actively involved in the Southern Alberta Antique Club and attended many swap meets and antique shows throughout Alberta. He enjoyed collecting, memorizing and reciting poems, singing hymns and reading and listening to tapes on the Bible. Joe was a sincere Christian, faithfully attending church and supporting others, and a member of the Enchant Evangelical Free Church since 1943.
Loving father of one son Calvin (Heather) McCombe of Brooks and their children Jessica McCombe, Dustin (Kirsten) McCombe and miracle twins Sierra and Dakota all of Medicine Hat, four daughters Carol (Erich) Ruppert of Innisfail and their children Steven Ruppert, Peter Joe Ruppert (fiancé Arianna Verbitsky) all of Red Deer, Wilma (Dwayne) Verhaeghe of Kindersley, Saskatchewan and their children Sheri-Ann Verhaeghe (fiancé Wesley Neufeld) both of Calgary, Daniel Verhaeghe of Eston, Sask., Katie-Lynn Verhaeghe of Kindersley, Rosemary (Garry) Orletsky of Airdrie and their children Lisa Orletsky (fiancé Lee Gingras), Kristal Orletsky all of Airdrie, Dianne McCombe of Calgary, one brother Alex (Pauline) McCombe of Vegreville, numerous nieces, nephews, sisters in law and brothers-in-law.
He was predeceased by his loving wife Ragna in November of 2000, one son William Alexander Ralph McCombe in Sept. 1975, one sister and brother-in-law Mary and Jim Orr and his parents.
Funeral Service Thursday April 17, 2003 at 1:30 at the Evangelical Free Church, Enchant with Pastor Jeff Frostad officiating.
Internment Travers Cemetery, Travers, Alberta.
Honorary bearers “All Those Who Loved Dad”.
Casket bearers Steven Ruppert, Daniel Verhaeghe, Dwayne Verhaeghe, Dustin McCombe, Calvin McCombe, Peter Joe Ruppert, Erich Ruppert and Garry Orletsky.
In lieu of flowers, tributes in Joe’s memory could be made to either the Heart & Stoke Foundation of Alberta 1825 Park Rd. S.E. Calgary T2G 3Y6 or the Full Gospel Bible Institute Box 579 Eston, Sk. SOL 1AO or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Directors. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.