Brian's Uncle Joe
Today we will celebrate the life of Brian's uncle Joe. We just saw him two weeks ago at the Verkley summer party. There was a team of eleven, and now we have lost him—the second born. After decades of being a part of this family, he was very much part of my family too. He lived down the road from my own dad once he moved into town.
He was quiet—a farmer who loved sharing his latest discovery like the well water information from our home that he framed and gave to us just because he could, or precipitation charts for Dawson City where Brian's sister Lisa lives dating all the way back to the gold rush or showing us something he had built. A farm accident during childhood that took part of his right hand never stopped him from following in his dad’s footsteps and creating beautiful things with his hands.
For our wedding, he built Brian and I a beautiful table using pieces of wood from the family farm, amongst 1800 or so other small blocks of wood. It was the same farm where he helped care for all the children born there. He never had children of his own, but they were his in all the ways that mattered.
When my children were young, he made school-bus picture frames so we could display their class photos on our wall. After we returned from the Netherlands, he built a sjoelbak game for Brian’s birthday and one Christmas, he gave us a completely handcrafted Shut the Box game.
Treasures—all of them.
His home was a treasure too. Over the past two years, he hosted some of the milestone birthday celebrations including his own 75th birthday. His pool table was always a favourite, and his games room—with its hand-cut hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs—was unmistakably his. Even his display of small stuffed animals gave everyone something to smile about and love. He even hosted my baby shower all those years ago.
He was my husband’s godfather, and I think that was a perfect fit. Neither of you super religious, but deeply rooted in good.
Quietly, creatively and generously, he made things that brought people together. He built more than tables, frames and games—he built memories. Those memories, from throwing baseballs, and building skating rinks, to finding kittens, and birthing calves as well as the treasures he left in our hands and in our hearts, will always be part of our family. He helped raise my husband and was there to watch our kids grow. I am thankful. We will miss you Uncle Joe.
https://www.brennemanfuneralhome.ca/post/joseph-verkley