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BICHLER, Joe 'Big Joe'

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If you ever had the opportunity to meet Joe Bichler, you know that he's not someone you could forget easily. He had a huge heart and a temper to match. His sense of humour was uncanny, his laugh infectious and his storytelling abilities were extravagant; meaning that he could tell a really TALL tale!! You needed to be smart enough to know when he was pulling your leg, but he was so convincing that it was often hard to tell when you were being had!

He came to Canada as a 17 year old boy from Austria with his parents, two of his sisters, a brother-in-law and a niece and nephew. He came with a strong work ethic and expected everyone to share it; from his employees, his tenants in later years and even his two children.

He was a great cook (even though he used every dish in the kitchen), he probably fed thousands of people pancakes at St. Jerome’s and our house was known around town for Sunday brunch. If you were hungry, just show up at McNeice Street around 11 am on any given Sunday and you left with a full belly.

The bbq was always ready (he had it connected directly to the gas line), the fridge always had a cold beer and a bottle or two of wine and he was never without a good bottle of brandy to share.

His friends were like his family and even though there are fewer of them now, they still take care of each other like always.

If you ever had the opportunity to meet Joe Bichler, you were some lucky!! He is loved and missed every day.