Gansevoort – Bruce B. Joiner, 58, of Gansevoort, passed away unexpectedly, Saturday, July 12, 2014.
Born on October 1, 1955, in Glens Falls, he was the son of Irma (Blackmer) Joiner of South Glens Falls and the late Claude Joiner.
Bruce was a graduate of Queensbury High School.
He served in the United States Army in Alaska. He then served 20 years in the Army National Guard. He was proud to receive the National Defense Service Medal.
Bruce married Wanda Wood on June 1, 1988, in Gansevoort.
He worked for the New York State Thruway and Canal Corporation as a lock tender at Lock 3 in Mechanicville for over 25 years.
Bruce was a member of the Adirondack Christian Fellowship and enjoyed hunting and was a diehard Yankee fan. Bruce Joiner was proud of two things, serving his country, which he loved, and most of all his beloved grandchildren.
In addition to his father, he is predeceased by his mother in law Mabel Wood and his father in law, Clarence Wood.
Bruce is survived by his loving wife, Wanda (Wood) Joiner of Gansevoort; his mother, Irma Joiner of South Glens Falls; his three daughters, Starr Slingerland and her husband, James of Queensbury, Kelli Hufstetler and her husband, Shannon of Gansevoort and Megan Dean of Kingsbury; his grandchildren, Logan Darrah, Amira Almontaser, Jerome Slingerland and Travis and Tyler Fitzgerald; his sister, Leslie Baxter and her husband Chris of South Glens Falls; his brother Larry joiner of Plattsburgh; his sister Dawn Joiner of Troy; his sisters in law, Donna Sherrange of Corinth, Doris Hoag of Gansevoort; and several special nieces and nephews to whom he was very close.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Carleton Funeral Home, inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls.
A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home with Pastor Rick Cohen, pastor of the Adirondack Christian Fellowship, officiating.
Burial, with full military honors will take place at 2 P.M. Friday at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga national Veteran’s Cemetery in the town of Stillwater.
Bruce’s family suggests that memorial donations in his memory be made to any local adopt a soldier organization.
Wanda, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
On behalf of my mother thank you
In the three short years we knew you, we couldn’t have asked for a better downstairs neighbor! I will miss you in your robe and slippers watching me try to dig out my car in the snowstorms, talking about the Yankees and hearing about the best places to go fishing and hunting! May you rest in peace and God bless your family.
Wanda ,Kelly and Star we are so sorry for your loss our thoughts and prayers are with you all
Thank you
Wanda & Family,
First our thoughts and prayers are with all of you, Second, I just saw Bruce at Walmart not more than 2 weeks ago, we talked about how he wanted to retire as things at the Lock were not so favorable anymore. I just pray he didn’t suffer. RIP Bruce !!!
Thank you so much
Wanda and family I am So Sorry to hear of your loss.
Bruce was always very friendly to myself and my family and will be missed.
We always looked for each other when our kids and grandkids played sports together.
Linda McInerney and family
Wanda and family,
We all are so sorry to hear of your loss of Bruce. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. He was a kind man, many memories here on the softball field!
Cathy Ippoliti and family
Wanda, Kelli and Starr…so sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with your family
I can remember meeting Bruce for the first time when we moved into the apartment above him and Wanda. We introduced ourselves and his first response was “are you a yankee fan?” From then on he has been not only a great friend to us but an awesome friend to our daughter Abby. I’m gonna miss her telling me “I want to talk to Bruce” through the window or “are you okay Bruce” when she heard him cough when he was outside. For the short time my family has known him, he left a great print on our lives. We will miss him deeply. I thank Wanda and the family for asking me to be a pallbearer. I am very honored and proud to have done so. I will always look to the right when I leave the building to someday maybe get a glimpse of him in the chair smoking a butt and hear him say “be safe” before I head of to work. As for Tara she knows your still watching over her flowers!
Dear Joiner Family,
Going through lock 3 was always a highlight of any river trip for my wife and I. The thought of a great chat with Bruce (aka Sarge), was well worth the time spent locking-through. When we heard of his sudden passing, we were stuned. His humor, insight, caring attitude, and love of your family was evident in everything he said……even though he knew I was a red sox fan!
We know he will leave a large void not only amoung us river-rats, but in all the people his vibrant life touched.
On the positive side though, we know he has left you with a lifetime of positive memmories. The Martins, Semper Fi.