BOURQUE, JOSEPH ALPHIE - 1934-2013 - The family of Joe Bourque announces with deep sadness the loss of their husband, father and grandfather which occurred at the Oromocto Hospital on August 22, 2013. Joe died peacefully in his sleep. Dad was born in 1934 in East Quinan, NS, where he was raised by his grandparents in a rural community in an extended family setting. In 1955, after working several years in Nova Scotia logging and agriculture, Dad joined the Royal Canadian Air Force where he specialized as a firefighter, and then as a military cook. During his 30 year military career, Dad was stationed at several bases across Canada. In 1977, he served with the United Nations in the Middle East at the Golan Heights and Ismailia. In 1984, Dad retired from the RCAF to pursue his favourite activities in beautiful rural New Brunswick. Dad spent his next 29 years of retirement enjoying hunting, fishing and trapping with his many wonderful friends in the area, including Robert Lanteigne, Gerry Baker, Ford Heath, Doug Lancaster, etc. He also enjoyed playing canasta in the evenings with Mom and their kind neighbours, including Mary McQuade, Annie Morehouse, Karen Wayne and so many more. Dad was known and admired for his exceptionally kind and generous nature with all people he encountered, as well as his practical problem-solving intelligence and his love of nature and wild animals. Joe was predeceased by his grandparents (Alice and Joseph Muise); his mother (Mary Mabel Milner of Annapolis, NS); his father (Nelson Bourque of NS); and his son-in-law (Donald Ulmer of Alberta). He leaves behind his wife, Anne; daughter, Joanne Bourque of Scarborough, ON; son, Ron (Jennifer) Bourque and his children, Joseph, Nicholas and Danielle of Wappingers Falls, NY; and daughter, Marilynn Ulmer and her children, Brendan-Joseph (BJ) and Christopher of Cold Lake, AB. He also leaves sister, Deborah Milner; and her daughter, Sarah Cardinal of QC.
Visitation will be held at Oromocto Funeral Home, 108 Winnebago Street on Monday and Tuesday, August 26 and 27 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #93 will hold a tribute service Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm at the funeral home. The Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, August 28 at St.-Vincent-de-Paul Catholic Church at 11:00 am, 25 Loisville Street, Oromocto, with Rev. Ken Weir officiating. For those who wish, memorial tributes in Dad's memory to the Alzheimer's Society, Salvation Army, Oromocto SPCA or a charity of the donor's choice would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be made at www.oromoctofh.com