Born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, USA, on September 2, 1936, Joe was raised in Yahk, BC, where he and his brothers terrorized the small town with childhood pranks. Joe was educated in the Yahk school and then spent two years at Vancouver College where he won a Golden Gloves award for boxing. His work career started at the age of 13 when he packed ties for the CPR. This demanding work toughened his young body and spirit and gave him the work ethic he carried for the remainder of his life.

The lure of the mountains soon called to Joe, so he purchased his first pony in Creston and rode to Fort Steele. Under the guidance of Arthur Henry Nicol, a Boer War Veteran, Joe with his younger brother Jake, began working in the Guide Outfitting business where his love of the outdoors took firm root. He learned his diverse survival skills while guiding pack trains for various clients including big game hunters, prospectors, and surveyors in the White River area before the White Swan Road was built. It was in this setting that Joe was nicknamed, “Little Joe the Wrangler.”

In 1958, Joe met and married Terrill Willicome. To support his growing family, Joe turned to long haul truck driving with the Cranbrook based Millar & Brown company. Never one to stay with one outfit for too long, Joe began working for various logging contractors driving logging trucks throughout southern BC. In 1971, he bought his first logging truck and struck out on his own. This move brought him and his family to Canal Flats where he decided to settle down. Joe always prided himself on being a “million miler”, so with that, he traded the logging truck business in for a pair of Percheron horses and began horse logging. This adventure was fun, but hard to compete with the logging contractors. The horse team was sold off after a few years, and Joe, semi-retired at this point, went back to the mountains and worked for local Guide Outfitters in the Findlay, Brewer and Toby creek drainages. His hand-built hunting cabins are still standing to this day.

Joe was a highly skilled craftsman as anyone who has seen his work will attest. The museum quality products he created with his own hands include wood stoves, canvas covered cedar stripped canoes, cedar kayak, leather rifle scabbards, moose skin moccasins, buckskin jackets and his own boat, the “Sasquatch.” His personal favorite was the Jim Bridger saddle he stitched together and rode on for years guiding while riding Buck, “the best horse he ever rode.”

He is survived by his four children: Jeff (Tricia); Granddaughter, Jacqueline Schuler; Great-Grandchildren; Saxon & Sophie. Granddaughter, Jenna Ray (Chris) Great-Grandsons; Joelan & Jagger. Son, Jerome (Denise); Grandsons; Jay & Jasper. Daughter, Lila (Doug King); and Son, Daniel (Josee Demers). His youngest brother, Scott MacDonald, Nephews; Scotty, Kenny & Patrick. Nephews: Micheal & Gordon MacDonald (sons of brother Jake & Olga) His half brother Oley Ortis (Jan); Nieces, Emily& Sarah

Joe was predeceased by his parents. Gordon Barry MacDonald and Evelyn Mary (nee Neil), younger brother Jake (Olga)and oldest half brother Neil Campbell (Lil) and later, his beloved wife Terrill in 2021.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

By his request, no service will be held.

Memorial Donations can be made to the BC Cancer Society

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