After a short, but valiant battle with esophageal cancer, our beloved Joe – Husband, Father, Papa, Brother, Uncle and Friend, passed peacefully in the Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre.
Joe was a wise soul, wisdom gained through his years of life – starting with immigrating to Canada from England, when he was just five years old. Along with his mother, Sofia (Wojtowicz Kuropatwa) and father, Kirill Perfilow they homesteaded a farm on the back-breaking land around Genessee, later moving to a farm south of Warburg.
Joe’s commitment to his family was evident from the moment his father passed away and Joe took on immense responsibility for the family farm, along with his brother, Henry. Though his mother remarried, Joe was called to return to the farm after a brief career as a heavy-duty mechanic and then military, upon the death of his step-father (Adam Kuropatwa). Here he reunited with sisters Helen and Irene, as well as brother Ritchie. Together they ran the iconic “Canadian Flag” farm just south of town in Warburg, Alberta. In later years, his young children, Charlotte, Angela and Frances were often at their dad’s side as he ran the tractor or cared for the animals.
Over the following years, Joe returned to the farm regularly from his 35-year career with the City of Calgary as a Master Electrician, to take care of the fields, the farm, the cattle and his mom. He met and married Becky in 1995 and retired in 2010. In 2011, along with Becky, Joe returned permanently to help care for his ailing mother alongside his sister Helen and brother-in-law Ron Spasoff. Joe and Becky have remained on the farm to this day.
Joe was a gentle giant. Animals and kids were drawn to his sweet spirit. He was a man of unparalleled moral character. As dependable and stoic, as he was generous and funny. In retirement Joe could be found playing a game of crib on the porch and doing his bible study with a strong black coffee in-hand, or on his beloved lawnmower doing laps around the lawn – whether it needed it or not. His dedication to The Alliance Church of Warburg and the community of Warburg, Genesee Community Cemetery, Warburg Bloomin’ Buddies, The Warburg Cultural Centre and the people of the town was as honorable and kind as the man he was. He often took on the jobs nobody else wanted to do with a shrug and a smile.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Becky and their children and step-children: Charlotte Perfilow, Ceilidh (Robb) Price, Angela (Wayne) Clausen, Frances Perfilow (Bill Merkley), Jim (Krista) McClurg, and Brodie (Joe) Richard. His grandchildren will deeply miss his bear hugs and wise (and sometimes wisecracking) advice and love. Caeden, Macy and Cory (Schall) Price; Jaime and Julia Clausen, Ethan Merkley, Clarissa, Callan and Colleen McClurg; Johnny and Jane Richard. He was able to meet his first great grandson – Easton Grant, just before his passing. He is also survived by his sisters Helen Spasoff, Irene (Cat) Kuropatwa and Sister-In-Law Robyn Kuropatwa. Nieces and nephews will surely feel his loss – Justin Perfilow, Jonathan and Barry Rumbles, Bryce Borgel, Kendall Kuropatwa, Ron (Jr), Jon and Angel Spasoff.
Joe was predeceased by his Father Kirill Perfilow; Mother Sofia Kuropatwa, brothers Ritchie Kuropatwa and Henry Perfilow, brother-in-law Ron Spasoff.
Our family is so incredibly grateful to the nurses and doctors at the U of A Hospital – particularly the Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre Units 54C and 53C. We are also grateful to Nurse Practitioner Michelle Williams and local pharmacist, Devang, Joe’s Warburg care team. We know many of you had found a special connection with Joe (he had that effect on people) and you tried with every ounce of your ability to save him for us.
In lieu of flowers, please forward a donation to the Warburg Cultural Society – Box 636, Warburg, AB T0C 2T0 or The Genesee Community Cemetery, or to any charity dear to your heart.
In honour of Joe, if you suffer from chronic heartburn, be sure to visit your doctor and request an endoscopy. It may save your life!
A Celebration of Life for our beloved Joe will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 (his 75th birthday). Details to come.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of PERFILOW Joseph Joe November 3 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta
Joe, you will always be in our 💕hearts!
Love you from Mrs. S and Linda McLaughlin