Date of Birth: March 18, 1937
Date of Death: January 17, 2024
Joseph Donald Hershmiller was born on March 18, 1937, to Peter and Mary Hershmiller at home on the farm west of Waldron. He was the second of five children and the eldest son. Joe attended school in Waldron until he chose to stay home to help out on the family farm. He then went out to Alberta to try his hand in the oil patch but returned home to where his heart was.
On Nov. 12, 1960, Joe was united in marriage to Kay Michael in Waldron. Kay was the love of his life, and they were married for 63 years. Kay and Joe then moved to Balcarres, where he found employment with a local farmer. This is where their first son, Clint, was born in August of 1961. In the fall of 1962, they moved to Yarbo, where Joe began working underground at the IMC Potash Mine. It is in Esterhazy where their second son, Roy, was born in April of 1963 and their third son, Craig, in November 1966.
In September of 1967, Joe and Kay decided to move back to Waldron, where they purchased the general store. Finally, in July 1973, Joe and Kay purchased the farm which is where Joe’s heart always was and always will be. On the farm is when they had their fourth child and only daughter, Jodie, in August 1974, born in Melville. During Joe’s years in Waldron, he served on various boards and committees – Waldron Village Council, Waldron Curling Club, Sask. Wheat Pool and Waldron School Board. In July of 2007, the farm was sold, and Joe and Kay retired to Melville. Joe was always so proud he was able to enjoy and raise his family on the farm.
Joe was an outdoor man, which is why he had a love for all things outdoors – camping, hunting, trapping and, of course, doing chores and looking after the animals on the farm. His family and friends were most important to him, and he loved nothing more than to sit, visit, have a cold beer and definitely a snack or two.
Joe passed away peacefully with his family by his side at the Moosomin nursing home on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.
Joe was predeceased by his infant son, Roy; his parents, Peter and Mary Hershmiller; and mother- and father-in-law, John and Daisy Michael. He will be lovingly missed by his wife, Kay; three children, Clint (Cathy), Craig (Rolanda) and Jodie (Kirk); grandchildren Jeremy
(Melissa), Bradley (Justina), Shelby (Troy), Tamara (Tyler), Shaylynn, Callie and Chandie; great-grandchildren Mason, Khloe and Neda; brothers and sisters Irene (Rudy), Bob (Louise), Doreen (Steve) and Merv (Jan); and numerous nieces and nephews, friends and neighbours.
Joe’s funeral service was held Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at Matthews Funeral Home, Melville, with Shelly Morris officiating. Interment took place in the Waldron Cemetery.
Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Melville.