Obituary of Joseph BASS

Joseph Bass passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 8, 2012 in the presence of his loving family. Joseph grew up in Beausejour, Manitoba and journeyed to Peace River Country, Alberta at the age of sixteen. Thereafter, he enlisted in the Army and served under the No. 1 Platoon, B Company, 133 C.1. (B) T.C., Wetaskiwin. Joseph was a talented journeyman and worked at British American Oil and Alaskan Pipelines. On March 31, 1944, he married Sevy Brostrom and shortly thereafter moved to Calgary, where he raised five children, Joyce, Wayne, Brian, Sharon, and Wendy. Joseph was certified in welding, and worked at Steel Crafts where he designed compressors for gas plants. In the 1970s he decided to start his own company, Mobile Heat Exchanger. He repaired gas compressors, made steel ‘I’ beams for moving houses, and repaired earth-moving blades. There was virtually nothing he couldn’t fix. In between all the design and repair jobs for his company, he also found the time to make bicycles and sleds for his children. He had a great passion for cars, especially Cadillacs. Well into his later years, he also made shovels and tools for his children and grandchildren, which were painted in his trademark colours – silver and red. He was a MAN OF STEEL – everything he made was fabricated from steel. To many, Joseph was known as “Pa”. Pa lived a quiet but dignified life and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Pa is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-seven years, Sevy; his children Wayne (Joan), Brian, Sharon (Elmer, deceased), and Wendy (Lauritz). He also leaves behind 12 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Pa was pre-deceased by his daughter Joyce (Nick), his brother Steve and sisters Helen and Bernice. A Memorial Service was held at CALGARY CREMATORIUM CHAPEL, 3219 – 4th Street N.W., (within the valley of Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. Please forward condolences through www.hffs.com. If family and friends so desire, memorial donations, may be made to Bow View Manor, The Brenda Strafford Foundation, 4628 Montgomery Boulevard N.W., Calgary, Alberta T3B 0K7, Telephone: (403) 288-4446, www.straffordfoundation.com Thank you to the caring and compassionate staff of Bow View Manor and the Foothills Hospital. HERITAGE FUNERAL SERVICES “Calgary Crematorium Chapel” Telephone: (403) 299-0111