Obituary of Gerald Herbert Loach

Gerald Herbert Loach, was better known to us all as Joe. Joe was born January, 1930 in Lennoxville, Quebec with four siblings, Virginia, Grace, Len and Pat. In 1949, Joe married the love of his life and his best friend, Mary Dorothy Irene Crandall, better known as Dotty. In the late 50's, Joe and Dot headed West to make their fortune, ending up in Dawson Creek in the early 60's. They purchased a house on 95th Avenue where they raised 6 children, Stan, Linda, Cathy, Kelly, Dick and Fred, each have fond memories of that home. Joe was away a lot working in the oil fields, the Arctic, and at the Bennett Dam, coming home happy and active. In the years that he worked with Stash (Stan Mac Line Construction) Joe was at home more often, and the family started camping - a lot. From the original, homemade plywood and canvas tent trailer, then the newer, homemade camper on the old 57 Chevy. Weekends are fondly remembered being at the lake or in the woods. Boating, water skiing, and seadooing were routine activities. In the winter, snowmobiling became the norm with Joe and Dot active in the original snowmobile club. Cathy, Kelly, Dick and Fred were routinely hauled off to some cabin in the hills over a weekend, be it warm or a frigid winter day. Joe and Dot paid special attention to the growing number of grandchildren, making Christmases happy occasions with a full house, and overflowing presents under the Christmas tree. Joe and Dot were always active, enjoying family and numerous friends, participating in the outdoor activities they enjoyed so much. The weekend-long jaunts on 3 wheelers and quads, and snowmobiles in the winter were the norm. Getting stuck and unstuck, with copious amounts of mud made for a successful weekend. Meeting up with friends in the various cabins, enjoying their company and adventures, occupied their winters. Joe enjoyed working with his hands in his workshop, tinkering with his toys, working on his trucks and helping buddies with their toys and vehicles. Jury rigging and improvising a fix was standard operating procedure. Joe was a man of great determination and resolve, wise in the ways of life. He lost some of his enthusiasm for life when Dotty passed, but he was kept active by friends who joined him for a regular Saturday Night Social, playing cards and eating cake. The family will always be grateful for those who helped Joe with their friendship and help. He will be missed. A funeral service was held Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 1:00pm at Bergeron’s Funeral Chapel in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Interment followed in the Brookside Cemetery, Dawson Creek.