Josef "Joe" Tuchscherer

December 20, 2023

In loving memory ~

Joe, a resident of Courtenay, BC since 2003, died peacefully on December 20, 2023 after an extended illness. He had recently enjoyed time with his immediate family and expressed his immense love for them and gratitude for their support in his last weeks of life. He was also grateful for the attentive care by nurses at the North Island Hospital Comox Valley, the compassionate care by the Aitken Community Hospice nurses, support staff, and volunteers, and the devoted care by his family physician of many years, Dr. Lissa Benson.

In 1952, Joe (17 at the time) immigrated to Bienfait, Saskatchewan with his parents and sister. They built a life there with the support of family and friends and a strong work ethic. Joe funded his post-secondary education by working at various jobs and earned a teaching degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1962. In the same year, he married Loretta Gartner. They enjoyed over 30 years living, working, and raising a family in the beautiful town of Lumsden in the Qu'Appelle Valley. Retirement eventually led them to Courtenay to enjoy a (mostly) snow-free life with other former Lumsdenites, new friends, and visiting family. Hosting an early Courtenay Christmas became an annual tradition, which was the highlight of the year for Joe; he loved the season almost as much as he loved his family.

When not involved in gardening, fishing, golfing, curling and Knights of Columbus fundraising events, Joe devoted countless hours to writing the Janer-Tuchscherer Family History, which he self-published in 2015. Joe was well-respected in the Russian-German genealogy community, both nationally and internationally.

Joe was predeceased by his parents, Agatha and Anton. He is survived by his wife Loretta, his sister Maria, his three children Anna Maria, Paul and Michael, and his grandson James.

Joe's family invite friends and relatives to attend his funeral mass at Christ the King Church in Courtenay (and live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYu5rVH0j1eXdrdbNuISoiQ/videos?view=0&sort=dd) on January 23, 2024 at 11:00 PST with a luncheon to follow in the church hall. Interment of Joe's ashes in Estevan, Saskatchewan will be held in the spring.

For those wishing to honour Joe's memory, a donation to the Germans from Russia Heritage Society or the Comox Valley Hospice Society are welcomed.