JOSEPH EDWARD BARNES

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JOSEPH EDWARD BARNES May 20, 1932 - December 3, 2010 Passed away peacefully at the Brantford General Hospital after a brief battle with cancer, surrounded by his family. Joe was born in England and, after serving with the Royal Air Force (where he met and married his wife Maisie), took evening classes to become certified as both an Engineer and Architect, eventually gaining employment as an Engineer with the Greater London Council. During his time in England he enjoyed playing many sports, including competitive level table tennis, cricket and soccer. In 1975 the family immigrated to Canada, after Joe accepted a position with JD Lee Engineering Consultants in Brantford, and spent from 1982 until 1988 in Winnipeg with DS Lea Engineering Consultants. The family then returned to Ontario, where Joe worked for the City of Brantford as Director of Design and Construction, until his retirement in 1997. Using his training, Joe designed and built four of the family homes. He had an enquiring mind and a thirst for knowledge with a particular love of history, and after his retirement spent much of his time researching his family genealogy and at his computer club. Joe was a kind, compassionate man who gave freely and gladly of his time and experience to whomever he met. He was a person who put everyone at ease and who treated those around him equally and fairly, earning him much admiration and respect. He is loved deeply and will be sadly missed by all those whose lives he touched. Left behind are Maisie, his best friend and wife of 58 years; children Angela Czerwinski, Glynis, Nicholas (Gillian) Joanne (Stuart) Austin, and grandchildren Sarah, Dominic, Laura, Luc, Anissa, Callum and Cody. On Friday December 10, 2010, at 1:00 p.m., a Celebration of Joe's Life Memorial Service will be held at the Dennis Toll Funeral Home, 55 Charing Cross, Brantford. Donations in Joe's memory may be made to the Cancer Society, www.dennistoll.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 08, 2010