Josef William D. “Bill” Sheldon

SHELDON, Josef William D. (Bill)

Josef William D. Sheldon was born March 31 1943 and died peacefully at the age of 82 on December 27, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta. He died a lucky man, with family near and far holding him in their hearts and with his beloved Mary holding his hand to his very end.

Bill was the husband of Mary Ellen Sheldon (née Gould), and the deeply loved father of Tess (Raja), Claire (Craig), Mia, Jay (Inbar), Signy, Toby (Jyotsna), and Tori (Erick). He was brother to Catherine, Juliet, Donald and David. He was a proud uncle to Becca, Kate, Hamish, Ingel, Stephanie, Adam and Kelly. He was a proud and loving grandfather—known as “Gramps”—to Liv, Finley, Sabi, and Suki, who knew him as funny and unusually good at walking in silly ways.

Bill grew up in southwestern Ontario and learned early that life rarely goes according to plan, but that a good sense of the absurd can take you a very long way. His path through life wasn’t straight, but it was brightly lit when he met Mary at the University of Toronto. She was on roller skates and he was smitten—a reminder that laughter can coexist with chaos.

Bill and Mary wed on March [date] [year] in Toronto. In 1980, Mary and Bill moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where they raised their family in Windsor Park and became well-known and well-loved members of the community. Bill proudly served as President of the Windsor Park Community League [years].

Bill worked for the Federal government in Edmonton as an engineer and was deeply proud of his professional life and contributions. In recognition of his work, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in [year].

He will also be remembered as a devoted canoeist, a lover of cigars shared with his sons and an inventive spirit who could make soup out of just about anything.

Bill loved Stompin’ Tom Connors and “The Log Driver’s Waltz”. Perhaps he loved it because it offered solid guidance to not panic if things get wobbly, and if you fall, make it part of the dance. In a past life, he may well have been a log driver, hopping over chaos with a grin.

Bill lived with dementia, a condition that took parts of his memory but couldn’t touch his love for his family. When his words slipped away or his path became uncertain, he reached for Mary’s hand and didn’t let go until his very end.

In his later years, he shone most brightly in Mary’s presence, where he was most himself. Bill leaves behind a family who loved him, and a legacy that insists we tell the people we love that we love them, early and often.

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