LEST WE FORGET 317 Joseph “Joe” Rascher and Rita Eveline Shand A Canadian Veteran and His War Bride Joseph “Joe” Rascher was born on April 28, 1921, in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia. He was the second of five children to William and Elizabeth Rascher. Rita Eveline Shand was born on October 24, 1925, in Worchester Park, England to Thomas and Emily Shand, and had one older brother Jim. Joe and his younger brother George enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1940. They both served in England, France, Belgium and Holland during World War II. Joe was awarded the following medals: 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945. While in England, he met the love of his life, Rita. They were married on June 23, 1943 while he was on a 24-hour pass. Joe returned to Canada in November 1945. He bought a house in Cleeves, Saskatchewan and waited for Rita and their first-born son, David, to arrive. They sailed on the Letitia and landed at Pier 21 in Halifax, NS, on July 19, 1946. They spent five days crossing Canada by train. Now that the war was over, he and his war bride settled in Cleeves and eventually moved to Turtleford, SK, where they raised their five children: David, Margaret, Alan, Ritchie and Sherry. Joe worked for the CNR and in later years became the janitor at the Turtleford School for ten years until finally retiring. Rita was an excellent seamstress. She made everything from wedding gowns to doll clothes for her family and community. She could make anything whether it was knitted, crocheted, cross stitched or sewn. Joe and Rita were both very active and involved with The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 128 and Auxiliary. Joe was a Legion district and provincial curler many times in both men’s and mixed curling and enjoyed the great fellowship and camaraderie that came with it. Joe passed away on May 27, 1998 and Rita passed away on March 17, 1999.
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