‘Mr. Legion’ praised for honesty, integrity

After serving the Yukon branch of the Royal Canadian Legion for more than 35 years, the man known as Mr. Legion has passed away.

After serving the Yukon branch of the Royal Canadian Legion for more than 35 years, the man known as Mr. Legion has passed away.

Joe Goodeill, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) veteran and dedicated member of the Legion’s Whitehorse branch, died peacefully in his sleep last week at the age of 91.

“Joe was, he was sort of Mr. Legion in town and he had a real affinity for all veterans’ affairs,” said Don Knutson, Goodeill’s longtime friend and Legion member .

“The Legion was his hobby. It truly was .... He was just constantly involved with anything and everything.”

When Goodeill first joined the organization, the Legion was on “shaky ground” financially, said Knutson.

“He just turned the whole thing around.”

Including taking on the role as Whitehorse branch president 12 times, Goodeill served every executive office and every committee, and was the city’s connection to the Department of Veterans Affairs for many years.

Goodeill was notorious for his sharp memory that never failed him, even in his later years. He was always able to list the names and details of every veteran he had met, said friends and family.

After being awarded a lifetime membership in 1978, Joe Goodeill went on to accept the Meritorious Service Award in 1989.

Just this month, Goodeill was honoured with the Palm Leaf to the Meritorious Award, the highest declaration the Legion offers its members.

“He was a very proud man,” said Jerry Goodeill, Joe’s son, adding his father walked up to the podium, cane in hand, to receive the Palm Leaf.

“I think that was a passion for him, keeping in touch with armed service, armed service personnel,” said Jerry.

Joe joined the RCAF in his twenties, after signing up for the army for a period of only a few days.

Goodeill had already applied to the RCAF when he and a friend hitchhiked from their home town of Saint Andrews, New Brunswick to Moncton, today about a three-hour drive away.

Having received no reply from the RCAF, Goodeill decided to sign up for the army instead. His RCAF acceptance letter was waiting for him on his return home.

In the Second World War, he served on ships taking troops over to England from Halifax. When the war ended, Joe Goodeill worked on ships bringing over war brides and troops.

Goodeill didn’t fly planes, but he was responsible for ensuring the troops got on board, were accounted for and got off the ship.

“He never expressed an interest in flying. He just wanted to serve,” said Jerry.

His history with the RCAF had a significant influence on him, and he maintained the authoritative demeanour required of him in the armed forces throughout his lifetime.

“He was old school. Joe didn’t think too much in grey, it was only black and white,” said Knutson.

“He always had that command when he was dealing with people. He was always a very authoritative figure.”

Judy McCullough, the eldest of Joe Goodeill’s three children, called her father “a good man. He always told things how they were. He wouldn’t beat around the bush.”

Jerry said he was very demanding as a parent and always made his children take responsibility for their mistakes.

“At the same time, he was a very active father. Encouraged us in sports and athletics and other activities,” said Jerry.

During his station in France, Joe was a physical education instructor, and Jerry remembers gaining unlimited use to the base’s pool, gymnasium and skating rink.

“I think he taught us all hard work, truthfulness, helping others, important qualities in life,” he said.

“When I think of Joe I just think of honest, integrity, all right things,” said Knutson.

“He was a one of a kind. Really held in high esteem by pretty well everybody that knew him.”

His friend was a proud grandfather and great-grandfather.

In his mid-seventies, Goodeill drove in a camper van from Whitehorse to Saint Andrews, accompanied by three of his six grandchildren .

“It was quite a trip for the group,” said Joe. “Sometimes on the way, Dad might have reverted to his role as drill instructor, but everybody survived the trip, and it was a great experience.”

Before and after the camper van expedition, Joe made frequent trips to Saint Andrews, where his only surviving brother lives.

“One of the things I find interesting about Dad in his later years is he redeveloped an attraction to going back to Saint Andrews,” said Jerry.

“When you get older, you get interested in where your roots are ....  It was amazing how many people still knew him, came out to see him.”

Just last summer, Joe Goodeill took a red-eye flight alone to the New Brunswick town.

McCullough had moved back to Whitehorse to care for her father when his wife, Bette, died in 2000.

McCullough had arranged for a wheelchair to greet her father upon his arrival in Saint Andrews.

When he stepped onto the tarmac, “He had his cane and he kind of brushed them away and said, ‘No I’m fine to walk,’” said Jerry. 

Although his father visited Saint Andrews often, he never had any intention of moving back.

“Home was Whitehorse,” said Jerry.

Joe and Bette moved to Whitehorse in 1962 while Joe was working with the RCAF.

“When they stayed here past a three-year period that they sort of found a home,” said Jerry.

“Both Mom and Dad carved out careers here and just decided that this was the place they wanted to stay.”

After Joe retired from the RCAF in 1969, he took a job at White Pass as an operations manager for the trucking division.

Since that time, Goodeill has made a name for himself in the city as not only Mr. Legion, but also as a person dedicated to his community.

In 1989, he was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award, and was later accepted into the Whitehorse Sports Hall of Fame for his contribution to softball.

Earlier this summer, Goodeill was invited to Calgary to accept the Minister of Veterans Affairs Special Commendation, but was unable to make the trip because of his ill health.

Yukon MP Larry Bagnell will present the award to Goodeill’s family at the ceremony this week.

“He was a great teacher for others coming behind. We all learned from Joe,” said Knutson.

“(He was) a damn good example to follow.”

A ceremony for Joe Goodeill will be held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral   at 2 p.m. Friday.

After the ceremony, he will be buried with a Color Guard Ceremony at Grey Mountain Cemetery.