Stephen "Corky" Jossul

He is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Rose; his children Christina (Kelly), Sara, and Brent (Josceline); and his cherished grandson Nash. He also leaves behind his younger brother Bryan; in laws Fred (Haidee), David, Allan (Frances), Bruce (Francis), and Linda Jossul, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Helen Ferguson and Steven Jossul; his brother Terry; and sisters in law Frances, Heather, Catherine, and Mary Lou.

Born in Edmonton, Corky moved with his family to Victoria at a young age, and later to the Comox Valley — he often proudly declared, “I’m from Cumberland.”

As a teenager, Corky immersed himself in community sports, which is where the first spark formed between him and Rose. Both being athletes, their paths crossed often, and Rose developed an early crush on him. They reconnected at university, and in 1970 Corky married the love of his life.

Corky attended Lake Trail Junior and Courtenay High Schools, graduating in 1964. He began his post secondary studies at UBC before transferring to UVic to complete his Bachelor of Education. In the mid 1980s, he earned a Master of Arts in Education from San Diego State University.

Athleticism was woven into every stage of Corky’s life. He competed in basketball, swimming, tennis, fastball, and soccer, and was a dedicated weight training enthusiast. Corky was a true waterman — along with being a competitive swimmer, he was a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, he achieved his Bronze Medallion, completed his Scuba Diving certification, frequently snorkelled the shores around Nanaimo and loved spending time floating on an air mattress at Lake Cowichan. He loved long distance running, whether circling the Colliery Dam during his years at John Barsby Junior High, running the highways between Courtenay and Cumberland, or training on northern Vancouver Island while working summer jobs. At university, he played for the UVic Vikings Varsity basketball team, earning the nickname ‘Tasmanian Devil’ for his speed and agility on the court. Many of his teammates became lifelong friends.

Corky began his teaching career in 1973 as a P.E. teacher at Parkland Secondary in Saanich. In 1977, he and his growing family moved to Nanaimo, where he taught P.E. and Math at John Barsby before transferring to Wellington Secondary to teach Math. Outside the classroom, he was almost always found in the gym — supervising, coaching, and connecting with students. Over his 32 year career, he coached hundreds of young athletes in basketball, volleyball, and track and field, and led student groups on West Coast Trail hikes. While coaching, at least one of his children was often in tow, and could be seen sitting on the bench beside him.

Corky believed deeply in giving back to his community. He was a dedicated member of the Nanaimo Basketball and Volleyball Referees Associations, and also refereed soccer and umpired fastball. For many years, he spent countless hours scheduling referees for community and school basketball games. He also served on the executive of the Nanaimo Bingo Association, helping raise funds for local schools and charities.

Outside of work and volunteering, Corky found joy in time spent with family, friends, and neighbours. Summers were filled with road trips to California, camping at Lake Cowichan, and the beloved annual Father’s Day camping weekend with friends at Rathtrevor Provincial Park — a tradition spanning more than 40 years. He loved hosting backyard volleyball games and barbeques, and spent many hours playing tennis at Bowen Park with Rose and their friends.

In his 40s, Corky embraced long-distance walking, exploring the trails, streets, and shoreline around his Hammond Bay home — often accompanied by his loyal dog, Levi. In retirement, he poured his energy into creating and tending a beautiful garden oasis with Rose, always with his golden retriever Lexxie at his heels, ready to chase a ball.

Corky approached everything in life with commitment, drive, and passion — whether furthering his education, coaching students, pursuing fitness, or raising his family. He will be remembered for his energy, his generosity, his unwavering dedication, and, by many, for his legendary love of eating raw onions.

We would like to extend our gratitude to: Save-on-Foods pharmacy, Richard, Cathy, and team; NRGH Medical Daycare nurses; Home Community Care; and Corky’s Palliative Care team, Dr. Kita and Joe, RN. Also to Tyler at First Memorial, for his patience and guidance.

To respect Corky’s wishes, the family will not be holding a formal service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Corky’s honour to the BC SPCA, the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation, or the Canadian Red Cross.