With sadness we announce that Joe passed away suddenly but peacefully at the Buckingham, Quebec Hospital on the 12th of May 2021 at the age of 79. Born in St-Joseph de Coleraine, Eastern Townships, P.Q. Beloved best friend and husband of Marlene for almost 37 years. Father of Luc Drouin. Predeceased by parents Josaphat Drouin (1978), Irene Toupin (1994), son Andre Drouin (2020), and sister Jocelyne Drouin (2020). Also survived by siblings Jacques, Jean, Jean-Marc, Joane and many nieces and nephews as well as step-daughter Petra and step-granddaughter Virginia.
Joined the RCASC July 1958. 1961 at to Fort Chambly, Germany with NATO Forces. Returned to Canada 1965, served in Ottawa. 1966 first UN tour in Cyprus. April 1969, at the Cdn AB Regt in Edmonton, Alberta. Feb 1974, at the AB HQ & Sigs Sqn. With the Cdn AB Regt second tour in Cyprus during the 1974 Turkish invasion. Served in Montreal during the 1976 Olympics. July 1977 at the Cdn AB Centre. 1979 at Montreal and assigned to the UN on the Golan Heights. 1981, at 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Edmonton, AB. While with the Squadron, he was contributor to the development of the Squadron Museum and was instrumental in the recovery of one of the Squadron’s original Lancaster Bombers KB 994. Feb 1985 at CFLA, CFB Borden, ON. Joined St. John Ambulance that year. June 1987 at the OTC, CFSAL in CFB Borden, ON. Aug 1989, at National Defence HQ BADP/BATOPS project. June 1990, returned to CFB Borden, CFSAL, as School CWO. Aug 1992, retired from the Canadian Forces after more than 34 years of service and moved to Gatineau, Quebec. Sept 1992, joined the 28 (Ottawa) Svc Bn as CSM and Nov 1993 he appointed RSM. Retired from the Reserve Forces April 1995. Formed his own promotional company “Joe Drouin Enterprises Ltd.”
Jan 1996, appointed D/Prov Commissioner of St. John Ambulance and in June appointed the Aide de Camp to the Governor General his Excellency Romeo Leblanc and later her Excellency Adrienne Clarkson until Nov 2001. For 23 years as a member of St. John he had accumulated well of 25,000 hours of volunteer service to his community.
With his company, dedicated his work to the Cdn AB Regt, the RCASC, CAVUNP, Logistics Branch, the Navy, Army and Air Cadets, Police, Fire, Paramedics, and many others. Nov 2019, after 27 years, he sold his company and retired for the final time. Tremendous thanks to his wife and former employees who made the company a success and helped to make the name of the company known around the world.
Special thanks to the excellent and supportive staff at the Buckingham Hospital in Gatineau, Quebec. Joe’s wishes were to be cremated. A Memorial Gathering will be held for Family, Friends and Colleagues at Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, ON, on Thursday, September 28th at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation could be made in Joe’s name to the Perley Rideau Veterans Health Centre at www.perleyrideau.ca or a charity of your choice.
Livre de visiteurs
Marlene Schmidle
Bob Elliott
Fair winds and soft landings my airborne buddy of many years.
Frank La Rue, MD, (Major, retired)
Please accept our deepest sympathy. He will be missed. Both serving with the 1AB Reg't, we so proudly shared so often our experiences.
Padre David Saunders
Joe, may you rest in peace in the presence of God and other faithful friends and relatives. You served many well and with true devotion.Good by or now my friend.
And for Marlene please be assured you are in our prayers as you adjust to this new and difficult life. Take care and be at peace.
Kent Foster
Joe was the go to guy for all things airborne for those of us whose airborne needs were taken care of by Joe. He never failed to deliver on his commitments and it was always uplifting to deal with him and Joe Drouin Enterprises. His voice and contributions to the preservation of our airborne culture will be missed. May he rest in peace.
James Fell
Joe you where a good friend, and so much more you will be missed by all who had the privledge of knowing you. Rest in peace brother. Marlene and family The Fell family sends our most sincere condolences for your loss
Capt (Ret'd) Bill Dickson, CD
Joe, I'll see you on the other side of the mountain. Rest in Peace my friend. Airborne!
Lise MCKAY
Rest in peace, my friend. You were always welcoming to new members of St. John Ambulance, and always ready to help anyone at the drop of a hat, You will be missed by all who knew and loved you.
Pierre Beauchamp and Chantal Trudel
SOLDIER'S PRAYER
I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do.
I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness, should I fail.
I have seen the face of terror, felt the cold sting of fear, and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment of love.
I have cried, felt pain and hoped, but most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.
At least someday I will be able to say I was proud of what I was!
AMEN
Now, Rest in peace “Mon ami”
MWO John Martin CD(RET)
I had the privledge of knowing you for many years. We both served in the Canadin Airborne Regiment at different times. I replaced you in the Golan Heights in 81. You were well respected by many. Rest in Peace you have done your duty.
Rest peacefully my babe. You earned it in life, may you receive it now. Our 37 years together gives me no regrets. They've been fun and never boring. Hope that you are off fishing somewhere with your son Andre. XOXOXOXO