JOSEPH WILLIAM MASTIN

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JOSEPH WILLIAM MASTIN Joseph William Mastin passed away peacefully at his home after a short illness on Thursday, June 3, 2004 at the age of 79. Joe was born on October 7, 1924 on the family farm in Brandon North near Forrest, MB to William and Martha Mastin originally from Nottinghamshire, England and Lincolnshire, England respectively. Joe was born and lived his whole life on the family farm in Brandon North - the same farm where Joe passed away about twenty feet from the original house in which he was born. Joe attended Rugby school, a little more than a quarter-mile walk across a field. Because Joe lived so close to Rugby school, he had the task of arriving early each morning, starting the fire and raising the flag. After completing his education at Rugby School, Joe worked on the family farm, which he operated for many years, raising cattle and growing wheat. In 1982, Joe married Luella Swiscoski (nee, Wiens) of Steinbach, MB. In addition to becoming a husband for the first time at age 58, he also became a father to Luellas teen-aged son Bill whose father passed away when Bill was a child. As a teenager and young adult, Joe cycled with friends most summer Sundays for many miles around the Brandon area. Joe enjoyed playing baseball with school friends and spent many wintertime hours skating at the local rink in the village of Forrest. Joe was fond of airplanes, and as a young man, enjoyed watching military planes from the Commonwealth Air Training Plan flying near Brandon. Joe liked going through museums, particularly aviation museums, and spoke often of his recent visits to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Joe attended Faith Fellowship Baptist Church from 1985 to the time of his death. Previously, Joe had been a member of McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church for thirty years. Joe loved studying the Bible, and for many of his years at the Alliance Church he taught Sunday school. Joe was a thinker. Joes inquisitive mind drove him to love books. Joes reading interests spanned a wide range of subjects. He read a diverse selection of books ranging from fiction and poetry to books on history and theology. One of Joes favourite newspapers was the Washington Times. Joe was a determined do-it-your-selfer. Joe was an enthusiastic, but not terribly elegant, carpenter. Joe built a deck attached to his house, with an unusually solid set of wooden steps. He also built a workbench in his basement that while not a thing of beauty, was the epitome of sturdiness and served as a home for Joes meticulously organized tool collection. Joes approach to life, including carpentry, was "function over form". Joe enjoyed fixing things. A week before his death, he found an electric drill that had become severely rusted and was totally seized up. Joe took it apart, thoroughly cleaned it and restored it to working order. Joes repertoire of mechanical tasks ranged from changing oil to major repairs on his truck. Although not a trained mechanic, he successfully installed a new engine. He worked slowly as he removed the old engine, remembered where each part came from, and carefully reassembled the parts. Although Joe performed the work, he did not hesitate to ask his friend Al, a skilled mechanic, for technical advice during his engine-transplant project. Joe was not a prideful man and was willing to ask others for help. Joe had a finely tuned sense of humour and was able to see the humour in situations where others did not. Joe was also a good-natured tease, and his witty comments often got a reaction from his family members. Joe was a devoted and loving husband and father. He was a kind man both to those around him and to his animals. Joe greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of a group of friends whom he met with every Wednesday afternoon for coffee. Joe was a committed Christian. At age thirty, Joe trusted Christ to be his Lord and Saviour. From this point on, Joe lived his life as a forgiven man, free from the burden of the sin that all mankind bears. He trusted Christ for all things in this life. Beyond this life, Joe trusted Christ alone to save his immortal soul. Joe did not count on any of his own good works to buy him peace with God. Jesus Christs death on the cross paid the entire price for Joes salvation. Joe lived his life a free man. That freedom extends beyond the grave. Joe is now safe in heaven with Jesus; and as he was in this life, Joe is free. Joe is survived by his wife, Luella; his son, Bill; his daughter-in-law, Mary Lou; his sisters, Marguerite Holmes and Jesse McPhee; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins both in Canada and England. Joe was predeceased by his father, William Mastin; by his mother, Martha Maria "Pat" Mastin (nee, Slator) and by his brothers-in-law, Hilliard "Bud" Holmes and Francis "Frank" McPhee. The time of visitation was held at Brockie Donovan Funeral Chapel, Brandon on Monday, June 7 at 7:00 p.m., and the funeral service was held at Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, Brandon on Tuesday, June 8, at 2:00 p.m. The interment was at Brandon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis Society, 153-8th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 3W9 or to a charity of choice. Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com. The family is grateful to the many friends and family who reached out with food and prayer to comfort us in a time of loss. Brockie Donovan Funeral Home 332-8th Street Brandon, MB R7A 3X4 Ph: 727-0694 Fax: 726-1297 info@brockiedonovan.com www.brockiedonovan.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 08, 2004