Josef "Joe" Valas

VALAS, Josef "Joe"
(Honey Man)
Passed away Friday, February 26, 2021 at the Ross Memorial Hospital, Lindsay, Ontario. Father of Victoria and Micheal Valas. Step father of Edward and Peter Howe. Grandfather of Tayler Revoy (Trever), and Cameron Howe. Great Grandfather of Riley Revoy. Spouse of Elizabeth Hilyer (Howe) Valas. Born in Slovakia February 17, 1932, the fifth of nine children. He left in 1951, spent eight months in Austria, then immigrated to Canada in January 1952. He worked on farms in Smithville and Delhi, on construction in Toronto and logging in Kenora. While working on a farm near South Hampton for two years he purchased his first two beehives. Joe went back to Toronto to work on the railway for two years, until he was reassigned to Lindsay, where he purchased a beekeeping farm in 1959. He began entering honey at fairs and conventions in 1965, including the Lindsay Central Ex, the Royal Winter Fair and Ontario Beekeepers Conventions, winning many awards. He later became a honey judge at the Royal Winter Fair, and several other fairs and conventions. He was still keeping bees until his death.  Cremation has taken place and there will be a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation would be appreciated by the family.