It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Joe Fleenor on April 7, 2014 at the Port McNeill Hospital, Port McNeill, BC. Joe had been diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2003. He left his job a year ago, and was focused on the hope of modern medicine and getting a lung transplant. Joe is survived by his father Hubert (Bert) Fleenor; brothers: Bruce (Colleen) of Cawston, BC; Colin (Gail) Fleenor of Chilliwack, BC; Dennis (Jacque) of Chilliwack, BC; sons: Dustin Fleenor, Jordan (Faye), Cody (Kayla); grandchildren: James and Kaydence. He is also survived by his step-Aunts Eleanor Upham and Erma Roed and one niece, nephews and extended family. Joe was predeceased by his mother Violet Fleenor a year ago. He was born in Calgary, Alberta. His parents raised him and three brothers on a Promontory farm. From early on the boys were a help to neighbors with haying, picking berries, and delivering the Sun and Province for money to buy bikes. He was active in high school sports, played in the band, had a passion for politics, and world events. He had a life long love of flying small planes. He landed on a sand bar, and in his Uncle Sam’s cow pasture, missing the top of the silo on take off! He was fearless. He was a contract faller for many years on North Vancouver Island, and throughout many parts of BC. He was one of the first contractors to Heli-log. He left falling as a result of his illness in 2004, taking a job at the Port Hardy Hospital in Facilities, Maintenance and Operations. He worked at all three hospitals, which included Port Alice Hospital, almost 10 years. His coworkers remember his tool inventions, calling them “Joe-isms”. Joe remembered words of wisdom told to him by his mother, employers, friends and family, and past down these to his children, and grandchildren. He will be remembered by his kind heart, statue, readiness to lend a hand, and love of fixing everything. The family thanks the Doctors, and the many staff at the Port McNeill, Port Hardy Hospital, Port McNeill Medical Clinic, the Vancouver General Hospital Transplant Team Doctors and Nurses, and many prior/post transplant patients for their encouragement, care and kindness towards Joe during this past year. There will be a Memorial for Joe Fleenor, on Saturday, May 3rd, 2014, at the Chilliwack Best Western Hotel, 1:00 pm. Address: 43971 Industrial Way Road (take exit 119) call 604-795-3828 mentioning this function to book a room.
Donations can be made to VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation, Transplant Unit.