Joseph Kaplanis

With heavy hearts, we sadly announce the passing of Joseph Kaplanis on Wednesday, June 7, 2017. He was a wonderful husband, strong and caring father, a loving grandfather and a true friend. 

Born in Fort William on April 19, 1946, he attended Central elementary school and Selkirk High School. His earliest passion was Karate, becoming the youngest Canadian at that time to earn a Black Belt and was an instructor in the Fort William School of Karate. Early in his life, he was regularly employed at large crowd musical events at the Fort William Gardens and also at many local hotel bars as a bouncer, often putting his own safety at risk while ensuring the security of others. He worked for a time at CP Rail until he joined the city Fire Department and rose through the ranks, taking courses and specialized training along the way, and was appointed Fire Chief in 2001. He remained in that position until his retirement in 2003. He was a kind but strong, proud and dedicated leader, an activist for those in need, and one of his many achievements at work was his direct involvement in the development, commencement, and continuance of the Fire Department’s "Toys for Tots" program.

He met the love of his life Susan Stokaluk in 1968 at Municipal Golf course and this nurtured his life-long passion for golf. He was welcomed into the Stokaluk family, well-known for their devotion to the sport and the operation of the Municipal Golf Course. He had a fully-equipped workshop and enjoyed woodworking, building everything from furniture pieces to whimsical bird houses; he was always busy doing construction and home renovation projects in his spare hours, designing and building beds, sun-decks, gazebos and other structures. He was an avid spectator of all sports, he was interested in politics and enjoyed engaging in heated debates on global issues, he loved music and movies, particularly gangster movies, and his favourites were the Godfather series. He enjoyed entertaining and cooking, baking muffins and bread, his famous chicken wings and sauce, and entertaining family and his many friends at regular gatherings on Mohawk crescent with Susan as well as extensive travel together.

Joe was devoted to his daughters, Jennifer and Cindy, and grateful for his sons-in-law, Jeff LeDuc and Greg Beaulne. He will rest easy knowing his daughters are in their care. Joe was especially proud of his 3 grandsons Max LeDuc and Liam and Evan Beaulne. He made it to all of their activities and it was during that time he bonded with Jennifer’s in-laws, Debbie and Terry Beaulne, as they, too, shared Joe’s pride in the accomplishments of the grandsons.

The boys will fondly remember Papa Joe because of the time spent with him, the incredible feasts he would prepare on Sundays, the many games of president, the stories he would tell, the things he would build for them and how quickly he would brag to everyone about their accomplishments. 

Joe travelled extensively with friends Paddy, Steve and the Saturday golf gang. They created many memories and hilarious stories as they visited the United States visiting casinos along the way. 

Joe met his loving partner, Julia Taxman, in 2013 during a winter holiday in Palm Springs, California. Julia has become a rock for Joe and is in every way family to us.

Predeceased by his wife Susan, in 2000. He is survived by daughters Cindy (Jeff) LeDuc, Jennifer (Greg) Beaulne, his grandsons Liam, Evan and Max, a sister, Venetta (Viola), and five brothers: Anthony (Marlene), Larry, Edward (Barbara), Robert (Marg) and John; Tony (Cheryl) Stokaluk, Barbara (Roger) Rickards, and Paul Stokaluk, Terry and Debbie Beaulne, Julia Taxman as well as many members of the Kaplanis, and Stokaluk families.

He was no ordinary Joe, he was a special Joe.

A family and friends gathering to celebrate Joe’s life, will be held on Friday, June 16, at the Victoria Inn, from 5 pm to 8 pm. Tributes will be starting at 6 pm. Arrangements entrusted to the Sargent & Son Funeral Home, 21 N. Court Street.