It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Joe Pelisek on Friday, May 1, 2015. He was the much-loved father to Mark (Karen), Amanda and Christine. His two grandchildren Shannon and Rachael will lovingly miss him. He is predeceased by his devoted wife Mary, his sister Bonnie Swan, his mother Marguerite Johns and father, violinist Vincent Pelisek. He is survived by his sister Rose Engemann. Born and raised in Ottawa, he graduated from Carleton University with two degrees, one in journalism and the other in Arts. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces as a teenager and retired as a Captain. It was through the military that he met Mary, a Staff Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps. A journalist at heart, Joe spent his career in the federal government as a Commerce Officer and Director of Information. While there, he served on the National Board of Directors with the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada. After he retired, he devoted enormous energy to the Retired Members Guild and became the president of the NCR Chapter and National President. His tenacity was legendary. Under his leadership, the NCR Chapter became one of the largest and most active. For his unwavering service, he was awarded the PIPSC Service Award and was twice the recipient of a Citation for Outstanding Service. Joe was a long-time member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Canadian Guards, Governor General's Foot Guards (Reserve), the GGFG Foundation (President), GGFG Association (President), Guards Club of Ottawa (President) and Edinburgh Lodge 736 (Past Master). He was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration, the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal and Army Cadet Medal. He was a true gentleman and loyal to his friends and family. Known for his great smile and dedication to all things "Sergeant Major," he lit up the lives of all those he touched. A voracious reader, Joe spent hours poring over newspapers and magazines and was a long-time contributor to the "Letters to the Editor" section of the Ottawa Sun and Ottawa Citizen newspapers where he was a vocal critic of local and federal politics. A man of integrity, great humor and wit, he received absolute pleasure in drinking beers with friends (he never met a beer he didn`t love), donating to countless charities and organizations such as the Salvation Army and Carleton University, cottage life, sunbathing, playing and losing the lottery, listening to Lowell Green, watching the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Blue Jays, curling, picking dandelions, and criticizing "bleeding heart" liberals. Up the Guards! Visitation at McEvoy-Shields funeral home, 1411 Hunt Club Road (at Albion), on Saturday, May 9 from 9:30-11 a.m. with memorial service to follow in the chapel at 11 a.m. A reception will follow. In memoriam donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ottawa are greatly appreciated.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18