Lagasse, Joseph Paul

On Monday Dec 9, Paul rounded the final lap on the outside and took the checkered flag in the biggest, most grueling race of his life.

A true ladies’s man, a loyal friend, known for his green thumb, for pulling wrenches, for always having a dog cookie in his pocket, just in case he came across a dog without one, and a passion for restoring Sunbeam Tigers and Alpines. He was very proud to be one of the first fathers in BC history to gain sole custody of a female child back in the mid 1970s; something he felt was a positive step in the rights of fathers. He leaves behind his beloved pit crew to forever cheer for him from the sidelines: Boris & Horatio Bosnjak, Jimmy, Grant Henderson, Thomas Hackworth, Ralph & Rick, Chris Kosturos, the staff at the Denny’s on the North Shore, where he went almost daily to chat up the ladies, and all his friends and neighbours in the Tranquille Valley.

Born in 1940 in New Westminster at St. Mary’s Hospital, raised in franco neighbourhood of Maillardville, he attended Millside School, Our Lady of Lourds, and Como Lake. He led a colourful life, full of colourful people. Always reinventing himself, he was a longshoreman, a businessman, entrpreneur, drove taxi, welder, and a licenced body man. In the early 2000s, he retired to the Tranquille Valley to homestead on his acerage, dubbed the Lazy P Ranch by his life-long friend, Grant Henderson.

Predeceased by his parents Wilfrid and Marion Moore Lagassé, brother Raymond, and his dogs George and Suzie. He is survived by his brother Lionel Lagassé, daughter Nichole Lagassé, and grandchildren Corey & Maiden Green.

Extra special thanks and gratitude to Boris & Horatio Bosnjak, Ian Gordon, Bob Moreau, the Kamloops North Shore palliative care team, Nicole his Social Worker, Dr. Sven Kip, Dr. Herman Mentz, and the nursing staff on 5 South at Royal Inland Hospital.

Paul insisted on no service, and requested his ashes be laid at his favorite place in the world, his home, the Lazy P Ranch.

Donations in Paul’s name can be made in his memory to The Roots Archive Center Trust, Prostate Cancer Canada, Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, or the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Condolences may be expressed at www.firstmemorialkamloops.com