Joe Mowatt

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joe Mowatt on November 19, 2025, at the age of 95. Joe lived an extraordinary life defined by courage, service, humour, and unwavering devotion to his family, faith, and community.

Born in Winnipeg on December 9, 1929, Joe grew up amid the challenges of the Great Depression. He often recalled—with a spark of mischief—that he was the only one of the neighbourhood kids who didn’t end up in jail. As a boy, he spent time living with his grandparents on their farm in Moosehorn, Manitoba, before returning to the city to finish school.

In his youth, Joe joined the reserve army, and when war broke out in Korea, he enlisted with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, undergoing paratrooper training and serving as part of a 17-pounder anti-tank gun crew on the front line of the DMZ. His firsthand accounts of handling unstable ammunition, makeshift gun pits, and the hard lessons of artillery life remain vivid testaments to the grit and camaraderie of Canadian soldiers in Korea.

Shortly before deploying, Joe met Ruth Sallee, beginning a lifelong partnership. After his demobilisation, Joe and Ruth married in 1954 and soon welcomed two sons, Philip and Mark. For Joe, family was always at the centre of his life. Camping trips across Canada and the USA, Cub and Scout leadership, and long evenings of laughter shaped the lives of everyone around him.

In 1954, Joe began what would become a 33-year career with the Winnipeg Police Service, eventually retiring as a Sergeant. His policing years were full of remarkable incidents—from delivering a baby during a blizzard to apprehending one of the FBI’s ten most-wanted suspects to photographing Soviet agents at the airport. Joe’s detailed memoirs show a man who faced danger with level-headed composure and who met daily life on the beat with humour, fairness, and a deep understanding of the people he served.

After retiring in 1987, Joe and Ruth moved to Sidney, B.C., before settling in Arbutus Ridge, where both became deeply involved in parish life at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Mill Bay. Following Ruth’s passing in 1999, Joe found strength and purpose in continued service—acting as Cemetery Director, helping build the new cemetery fence, supporting the local food bank, and quietly assisting those who needed a helping hand.

In 2022, Joe moved to Sunridge Place, where he was cared for with compassion in his final years. Joe will be remembered for his sharp wit, his extraordinary storytelling, his kindness, and his devotion to faith and family. He was a veteran, a police officer, a mentor, a husband, a father, and a friend to many. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched.

A Prayer service will be offered on Thursday, December 4th, 2025, 7pm, at St. Francis Xavier Church. A Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Vince Borre Friday, December 5th,10am, at St. Francis Xavier Church, Mill Bay, with burial in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the CMS Food Bank, Mill Bay, are gratefully appreciated. Left to mourn his passing are sons Philip (Alison) of England, Mark of Sidney, sister-in-law Linda Ward, (Albert) and their family, along with numerous friends.

Semper in cordibus nostris — forever in our hearts.