Joseph Main
May 9th, 1938 – November 24th, 2024
“Goodbye, Uncle Joe.” The family of Joseph Frank Main, resident of Westpark Crossing Retirement Home, Moose Jaw, SK, formerly of Avonlea, invites his family and friends to join them in their farewell to their brother, uncle, friend, and neighbour.
Joe was the second child of Otto and Barbara Main. He was born in the Bayard District. A younger brother to a sister and a brother. In 1941 his parents bundled up these three little ones together with meagre possessions, and they moved to their newly purchased land near Claybank and Avonlea. Two more sisters to Joe, were born there.
As the depression ended, the Main family saw rewards from their patient hard work. The fields were golden, and the pastures were slowly filling with cattle and horses, Joe’s great interests. He and his older siblings walked to Thompson School down the road, where he formed lifelong friendships with other farm children. After high school in Avonlea, Joe chose to continue his work as a full-time farmer with Otto.
Joe bought land near Claybank, as well as pasture for his cattle among the ranges of rolling hills nearby. After his father’s retirement, he purchased the home farm and continued to farm the land and raised cattle, pigs, chickens along with a horse in the pasture.
His love and steadfast support of his nephews and nieces began with Patricia and Gilles Granger’s sons, Patrick, Maurice and Michael. The boys would learn all the farm skills, with the bonus of Grandpa Otto’s affection and Nanny’s cooking and Uncle Joe’s support and incredible patience. The boys have many treasured memories of Uncle Joe who always provided unconditional kindness whether they did good or bad. Many of their experiences, whether freely roaming the yard, visiting the animals in the barn, going to the pasture in the hills or being the summer help formed a pivotal part of who they are today.
Next, nieces Barbara and Andrea, daughters of Marianne and Roy Kardash, began visiting from Saskatoon. Later, the four children of Marjorie and Ron Walker from Ottawa, Rebecca, Rob, Nick and Ben, found that during their holidays, farm life really existed outside of storybooks.
Uncle Joe, devoted to each and all of them, never faltered in being the most loyal uncle they could imagine. His faith in God and love of his family, farm, and friends, were his foundation. All who knew him never saw him guilty of unkindness or ill will.
Joseph Main is survived by sisters & brothers-in-law, Patricia Granger, Marianne (Roy) Kardash, & Marjorie (Ron) Walker; nephews Patrick (Heather) Granger, Maurice (Debbie) Granger, Michael (Josefa) Granger; Barbara Kardash & Andrea (Sandro) Kardash, Rebecca Walker, Rob (Cristina) Walker, Nick (Kaitlin) Walker) & Ben (Louise) Walker, and numerous other great nieces and nephews.
Joe was predeceased by parents, Otto and Barbara Main, brother Harold, and brother-in-law Gilles Granger.
The family wishes to thank Joe’s longtime pastor, Fr. J.R. Prince of Claybank, SK, Dr. W. Geyer, Moose Jaw, and Joe’s particularly friendly helpers at Westpark Crossing retirement home, Moose Jaw.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heart & Stroke Foundation or to St. Joseph’s Parish ([email protected]).
A funeral Mass will be offered at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, Claybank, SK on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 11:00am. Father JR Prince will preside. There will be a private family interment to follow. All family and friends are welcome to join us for lunch and a time of fellowship at the Avonlea Community Hall.
In living memory of Joe, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.jonesparkview.com (Obituaries). Blake Seebach- Funeral Director
