Joseph Gregor Schnarr was born on September 23, 1959, in Kamloops, British Columbia, to James and Shirley Schnarr. He grew up alongside his siblings, Sally and George, and was known to those closest to him as Joe.

Throughout his working life, Joe built a career in service management, working with Morris in Yorkton, Seed Hawk in Langham, Rocky Mountain Equipment, and a Chevrolet dealership.

Joe and Alice’s story began in 2009. Alice liked to call Joe “John,” a little inside joke between the two of them that became a special part of their story together. In 2011, they married and moved away from Elfros to start a fresh beginning. Joe had two sons of his own, Darrin and Nathan, while Alice had two sons, Randall and Daniel, from a previous relationship. As Joe and Alice built their life together, Joe became a bonus dad to Randall and Daniel.

In 2016, Joe and Alice returned to the Elfros area and purchased a little house. That same year, Joe began working at the Wadena Co-op Home Centre, where he spent the next ten years in the lumber yard. He retired from the Co-op at the end of July, looking forward to spending more time at home.

Joe and Alice loved their home and took pride in making it their own. They renovated the house and added an enclosed sun porch, which soon became their favourite room. They would eagerly wait for winter to pass so they could spend hours there enjoying the sunshine, sharing a coffee, and taking in the views that Mother Nature had to offer. They often commented on how fortunate they were to have their own little piece of paradise.

Alice enjoyed tending to the flower beds and garden, while Joe took care of mowing the grass and trimming the yard. Once the work was done, they would sit back with a cup of brew and admire what they had accomplished together. Joe would sometimes point out a new flower or the different tulips coming into bloom. They also appreciated the wonderful neighbours they had in Elfros.

One day, Alice asked Joe if he would ever consider leaving Elfros and moving somewhere else. His answer was simple: “Why would I? It’s the only thing we need.”

In 2017, Alice adopted a cat, despite Joe’s declaration that he disliked cats. Before Alice had a chance to name her, Joe named her MJ, short for Mary Jane. It didn’t take long for him to become attached to her, and he soon found himself adoring and spoiling the very cat he had once claimed not to like.

Joe will be missed by Alice, his sons, Darrin and Nathan, his stepsons, Randall and Daniel, and all those who knew him. Alice and MJ will especially miss his presence at home and the everyday moments they shared together.

Memorial donations in Joe’s name can be made to:

The Wadena Food Bank | PO Box 1187 | Wadena, SK | S0A 4J0