It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Joseph (Joe) Winterburn on the morning of January 1st at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital after a short battle with Cancer.
Joe and his twin brother Bert were born at the Port Arthur General Hospital on January 1st, 1949 to Elizabeth Winterburn (nee Tebbenham) of London, England and Joseph Winterburn of Yorkshire, England. Joe had the honour of being the first baby born in Port Arthur in the year 1949.
The family has resided in the same house on Pine Street their entire life making the area community their home. Joe attended Prospect, C D Howe elementary and Hillcrest High school. He continued his education obtaining a BSc in Library Services at Lakehead University.
Upon graduation from University Joe worked several years at the Thunder Bay Museum. In the mid 1980’s Joe became the Historic Tinsmith at Fort William Historical Park where he remained employed until his retirement in 2017. Most of the shinny tin items you find in the Fort’s buildings and for sale in the Gift Shop would have been made by Joe. As a Tradesman he also was responsible for delivering historic programing to school children and adults. One example of a program he developed and delivered was “Amazing Inventions”.
Joe had a great love for singing. It was not uncommon for him to break out in song while working at the Fort with some obscure historic verse. During re-enactments Joe was joined by his brother who sang and played the fife. He was a proud member of the Lakehead Choral Group singing with them for 20 plus years as a Bass.
Joe was a fan of books! He was a member of the Catherine Street Book Club for 32 years reading approximating 300 books. He became their “Keeper of the List” recording each book they read. Joe is remembered as the person who would attend the meetings with a themed artifact to match the book they were currently reading. Joe was an editor and frequent contributor to the “North West Courant” a journal published by the “Friends of Old Fort William”.
Joe’s major passion in life was history. In the early 1980’s he discovered re-enacting and became a long-term member of the “Canadian Corps of Voyageurs”, “Forces of Lord Selkirk” and briefly a member of the “Company of Fur Dramatists”. His dedication to detail was legendary and the phrase “Just ask Joe” was everyone’s solution to a question. Joe portrayed a Colour Sergeant in the historical re-enactment group “Regiment De Meuron” and could be seen barking out orders during FWHP’s Siege or Battle Weekends.
Joe travelled to numerous out-of-town history events. Joe participated in the War of 1812 events at Fort George, Stoney Creek, Prairie du Chien WI., Plattsburgh NY and Forces of Lord Selkirk events in Winnipeg. His ultimate trip was to Waterloo, Belgium in 2015 for the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
Joe is survived by his brother Albert (Bert), cousins Mary Wheatley (Foulds), Bill Foulds and Barry Wolframe, a childhood Pine Street friend who both brothers remained in close contact.
A Celebration of Joe’s life will be held in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre on Thursday, January 12, 2023 presided by Archdeacon Deborah Kraft at 11:00 a.m. Visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
For those unable to attend in person, the service will be streamed live and archived at www.harbourviewfuneral.ca where condolences may be offered as well.
In lieu of flowers a donation may be sent to the Thunder Bay Museum or the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
