Joseph John Jordan

Born May 21, 1936, in New Westminster, BC, to Irene Rosamond (Kerr) and Walter Arnold Jordan.
Surrounded by family, Joe passed away on January 6, 2019 of heart failure, weakened by his 5-year struggle with Wegener's Granulamatosis Disease.
Joe was pre-deceased by his older sister Emily Irene Fairall and wives, Linda Mary (nee Wade) and Mary Ellen (nee Kimball).
Survived by his loving wife, Mary Lynne (nee Whitall). Joe leaves 5 children: John, Katherine (David Glass), Irene (Tom Watson), Walter (Sandra Meurs), and Elizabeth (Wayne Kallen). He also leaves 9 grandchildren: Glenn, Dina, Jade, Alex, Melissa, Mark, Sarah, Nick, and Rebecca, 18 great-grandchildren: Miles, Aspen, Carmanah, August, Minnie Jo, Kameron, Curtis, Kaitlyn, Savanah, Taylor, Julia, Duncan, Ryan, Jayden, Jaxon, Skyler, Madison, and Caleb, and 2 great-great-grandsons: Jordan and Jacob, who will all miss his guiding hand and insights very much. Joe will be fondly remembered by his extended family.
Raised in Tsawwassen/Point Roberts where the Jordans were early homesteaders and his grandfather, Joseph Jordan, was the first constable in Ladner, BC. At an early age Joe went fishing and crabbing with his father. As a child he suffered a mild case of polio which affected his legs in later life. During the year he spent home from school his mother taught him how to garden, cook, clean house, do laundry, and even sew! -- superb husband material.
After technical college in California, Joe managed a gas station and worked for Monroe, Litton Industries repairing office machines and early computers, later transferring to Seattle then Vancouver. He and his wife, Mary, owned and operated a Sunshine taxi in Delta, BC. Following his dream to return to fishing, he left Monroe and built a fishing boat and went gillnetting from the Fraser River up the coast to Rivers and Smith Inlets, retiring in his early 70s. Joe helped his 2 sons, Walter and John acquire fishing boats, although only Walter is still fishing. Years ago when he realized salmon fishing was waning he built rafts and farmed oysters. He was joined by 2 of his children, Walter and Elizabeth, in the aquaculture business. With a strong work ethic, Joe had all the skills to build or fix almost anything, large or small. Until his illness he enjoyed gardening and puttering on his numerous boat, truck, car, and engine projects in his yard. He was quick to lend a hand or his expertise to friends on their projects. While his children were young he was involved with the Boy Scouts.
Joe discovered Cortes Island in 1976 when he needed to repair his fishing boat and Harvey Smith offered his tools at his Manson's Lagoon home to save Joe travelling all the way home to Delta. Mary and Joe fell in love with the lagoon, purchased acreage along the creek, and between fishing trips they built a home on the bluff overlooking Manson's Lagoon, often heading to the fishing grounds on Li'l Bit covered in sawdust.
Joe kept in regular touch with the many friends he made throughout his life, some from as far back as grade school. He happily attended school reunions, the last one in 2018, despite being ill.
Joe was well known for entertaining friends -- and even strangers --with his numerous interesting stories, recalling infinite statistics stored in the filing cabinet of his brain, particularly about vehicles, boats, fishing, people, history and wars.
Joe didn't feel old until he visited his grandson Mark Jones a few years ago, who was babysitting HIS grandson.
After cremation, in May Joe will be returned to his beloved lagoon by the bluff home he built forty years ago. He is going back to the sea where he spent so much of his life. A celebration of life will be held at that time.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice.