Death Notices

TOFAN, Joseph Simon – passed away peacefully in his sleep, at his home on Monday, January 8th, 2024 in his 88th year.  Beloved husband of nearly 66 years to Ursula (nee Schlecht) Tofan.  Loving father to Richard (Brenda) and Christine Smith.  Predeceased by his parents, the late Peter (1982) and Annie (1997).  Joe was born in Beauvallon, Alberta in 1936.  His parents packed all their belongings in their pickup truck and moved to Southern Ontario in 1938.  They camped at the farm of John & Mary Collins for a year before finding and purchasing a farm property west of Greens Corners, where his dad opened a home barbershop.  Joe grew up on the farm and attended Elmwood Public School and later the Seventh Day Adventist Church School.  He enjoyed music, gardening, carpentry and the farm animals.  He became a raleigh salesman at a young age and worked at J.B. Jackson Ice Cream Factory in Simcoe.  Joe met Ursula in 1956 at church and got to know her more when he took a job at the Simcoe Mitt & Glove, later known as Ranger Safety Products and then Ranpro, where she was one of the girls sewing there.  Joe and Ursula were married in 1958.  They built their first home on the same farm beside his parents.  In 1973, Joe took over the farm from his parents and built their second home on the west side of the farm.  They grew cucumbers for Bicks Pickels for a number of years and had Tofans Farm Market & then Tofans Farm Nursery for many years.  Joe continued to work at Ranpro as a Head Mechanic and invented many machines there for over 52 years.  He was awarded a golden achievement award for his long time of outstanding service.  After retirement, Joe & Ursula sold the family farm & nursery business and have enjoyed their retirement years together in their home in beautiful Vittoria.  In his retirement, Joe had more time to enjoy golfing with his son Rick and his good friends Tom Brownlee and Ed Hollick.  He enjoyed playing music with his daughter Christine and the River of Life Band.  Joe was a long time member of the Simcoe Seventh Day Adventist Church.  Friends are invited in share their memories of Joe with his family at the Simcoe Seventh Day Adventist Church, 56 South Drive Simcoe for service & refreshments on Sunday, January 14th, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, those wishing to donate are asked to consider the Simcoe & District Humane Society.  Donations may be made through the JASON SMITH FUNERAL CHAPEL, 689 Norfolk St. North Simcoe.  Personal online condolences at www.smithfuneralchapel.com  Looking forward to the Resurrection morning.  “For the Lord himself will decend from heaven with a shout. With a voice of the arch angle and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we which are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so will we ever be with the Lord”.  1st Thessalonians 4:16-17