Joseph "Joe" John Ference

Always In Our Hearts

Joe Ference

Respecting Joe's wishes there will be a private family interment.

The Family would like to invite all family, friends and neighbors to a:

Memorial Luncheon

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Consort Community & Seniors Centre Consort, Alberta at 2:30 P.M.

JOSEPH JOHN FERENCE OBITUARY

Dad was born on a farm in rural Monitor area on November 24, 1930 to John and Agata Ference. He was the 3rd of 4 children. His birthdate was always a problem, as his birth wasn’t officially registered till December 18, 1930, when the family was able to get into town. His sister Kaye and brother Charlie and his mother had immigrated from Poland in 1929 to join his dad on the farm.  His brother Ronald was born a few years later. He started school in 1937 at Berryfield School, a year later than normal because he couldn’t speak English. He attended school here until grade 9 and then went to Shannon Heights and back to Berryfield School and did some correspondence. He went to school in Consort until grade 11 and then he was needed at home on the farm, therefore, his schooling days were over. In January 1955 he bought and moved to the Dan Nelson farm and began farming on his own. His mother Agata was injured and died in a farm accident at haying time and his brother Charlie was killed in a farm accident a year later. His dad remarried in 1951, Mary Dobruk.

Dad married Florence Markin July 15, 1955 and they began a life together. There were many good years and of course many lean years. His daughter Linda was born in 1956, son Richard in 1957, son Larry in 1962 and son Brian in 1964. Brian has taken over the farm over the years and he and dad worked very closely together. Dad was always the picker upper and clean up man. He did not like an untidy shop and tool kit. He was also the fixer upper of any machinery and I’m sure Brian learned much from him over the years. Even in his last days he was still talking about fixing machinery on the farm.

Dad’s main passion in life was farming and providing for his family. There was never an idle moment with dad. He liked to garden, especially his potato garden, picking saskatoons every year and mowing the lawn to keep it neat and tidy. He enjoyed a few fishing trips to Scott Lake with Art and Len Day and many other friends and had many fishing stories.  He traveled to many destinations with family and friends, but in later years was happy to be just at home. He loved to read any type of history book and the Monitor and a few other history books were used frequently, their covers missing.

He deeply enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren when he was able to see them. He especially enjoyed a trip to Edmonton to see the Lancaster plane that his brother in law Art had flown on and one that they had spent many hours talking about. He especially liked the frequent Sunday visits from his sister Katie and Art in the few years before they both passed away.

While he was growing up there weren’t many neighbors but some left lasting impressions and life long memories; they included the Kroegers, the Fossums, the Barrs, Shannons, and the Klassens.  

After sustaining a few accidents over the years, many with altercations with animals and the last one with rolling an ATV with a calf on board, his health declined. He moved into Longterm Care in Consort in October 2017 and remained here until his death in May 2018. He never really adjusted to Longterm Care as he was off the farm and the day to day going ons; he  had never enjoyed sitting idle with nothing to do and he said the time seemed long between visits with family; although Brian and mom were frequent visitors. Dad passed away peacefully after a short illness on May 25, 2018 in Consort Longterm Care.

Joe is survived by his wife Florence (Fay) of 62 years, daughter Linda Thomas; son Richard (Laurie) and their 2 children Amanda (Russell) Nobel and their 2 children Jayla and Ashlynn and their son Shane (Lacey); son Larry (Lori) and their 3 children Jordan (Ashley) and their children Aubrey and Brody, Tyler (Chelsea) and their 2 children Presley and Quinn, and Jennelle (Cody); and son Brian. He is also survived by his brother Ronald (Lillian) and their family and his sister Katie/Art Day’s 3 sons and their families.

Joe was predeceased by his mother Agata in 1944, brother Charlie in 1945, father John in 1982, step mother Mary Ference, son in law Lawrence (Lee) Thomas in 1998, sister Katie Day in 2005, and his brother in law Art Day

Written by Linda D Thomas

Memorial tributes may be made to the Consort Hospital Foundation, (Specify Palliative Care Room), or to the Alzheimer Society.

Heather Caseley has been entrusted with the care and funeral arrangements; Coronation Funeral Home P.O. Box 358 Coronation, Alberta TOC 1CO; 403.578.2928 Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.coronationfuneralhome.ca