Obituary of Joshua Lee Webber

To view the livestream of the Celebration of Life, please click here.

Joshua Lee Webber, born on August 19, 1988, to Lisa Haldenby and Mike Webber, passed away suddenly due to health complications at the age of 36 in the early hours of September 16th. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Ashley Webber, and two precious children, Lively (3) and George (1), along with his parents, Lisa Haldenby and Mike Webber, his stepfather Mark Haldenby, Juergen, his brother Jesse Webber, Christianne McCabe, nephew Nash Webber, stepsiblings Robyn and Brent Haldenby, grandparents Mike and Diana Batty, poppa Ken Flynn, poppy Cec, his mother & father-in law, Ken & Michelle Bonnell, and brother-in-law Andrew Bonnell & Chelsea Johnson, and many other family members and friends. He is predeceased by his grandparents, Elizabeth and Michael Webber, and his uncle Mark Webber, nanny Dallas, and nanny and poppy Bussey.

Josh was an amazing man, loved by everyone he met. (This is his wife writing, and I can’t think of one person who didn’t like Josh.) What a statement about the MAN HE IS.  

I hope you don’t mind that I used present tense there, as I firmly believe that Josh is living on in eternity with our Heavenly Father. God’s Word tells us that to be absent from the body is to be immediately present with Jesus. That is the hope upon which Josh and I built our family and home—that God is our good Heavenly Father, that He has the best in store for us, and that following His Holy Spirit day by day was the best thing we could do.

Josh had the most beautiful heart—one that poured into those around him, always believing the best in others and wanting to give his best to them. He made everyone feel welcome in a room. Josh was always the first to lend a helping hand, encourage someone, or empty his wallet for those in need. His generosity was abundant and wholehearted.  

Josh loved his family deeply, and he had a large, loving one! He was always a mama’s boy to his mother, Lisa, and loved his father, Mike, and stepfather, Mark, always striving to make them proud. He and his brother Jesse were like two peas in a pod, always getting into something together as they grew up. As brothers, they walked together. Josh embraced his extended family when he gained stepsiblings Robyn and Brent, always enjoying every chance to connect. His cousins were his confidants and weekend adventurers, while his grandparents, Bumpa & Grandma Webber, and Bam & Gam, were role models he respected, looked up to, and called friends. He loved his nephew Nash & made him feel special every chance he had. He cherished quality time with family, always welcoming everyone into his life, believing there were never too many to love. When Josh married, he embraced the Bonnell family as his own too saying, “I’ve fallen in love again” doing much of the last 7 years adventuring together. He was a family man through and through.  

Josh was the best husband and father on this planet. I can honestly say that the last seven years of our lives have been the best of our lives, filled with lifetimes of amazing, heartfelt moments. He always put his family first, making every moment special for us. In a recent note, he wrote that his favorite thing was “everyday life with his wife and kids.” Josh was Lively and George’s biggest fan—cheering them on, building them up, and being a dad who played with them every day, getting down to their level and showering them with cuddles. He always made me feel so loved, so seen, he made sure I knew I was his favorite person in the world, every single day. Josh prioritized and created what I can honestly say was the dream family home and dynamic, one I will spend my lifetime trying to recreate for our children.  

Josh loved his Church community—Base Church. He led our family into healthy community building, spiritual growth, and firm foundations, prioritizing serving our church and growing in our relationship with God as a family. He made it clear to me and our children every day that our personal relationship with God was the most important thing in life, for which I am forever grateful.  

Josh loved every job he had and always brought his absolute best. He began his career at the family business, WW Immigration, where he was mentored by his grandma Betty and Aunt Deb. He later joined his mom at Manulife Investments before being quickly scooped up by Sun Life. Josh left a profound impact at Sun Life, where he served & worked for 13 years with excellence and passion, his latest role being that of Director, Client Journey Owner, Prospr by Sun Life. He was committed to bringing his best every day, in everything he did. He would spend hours perfecting a single slide to make sure he communicated best what he wanted to say. He was passionate about his team and the people he worked with, always looking for ways to bring people together, celebrate their accomplishments, and create a sense of community and belonging. He loved to lead—not for the sake of leadership, but to help others be their best, while being their friend along the way. I’ve heard from countless people who worked with him that Josh made them feel valued, welcomed, and their best selves. 

Josh was an amazing athlete and loved sports. From his hockey days with the Waterloo Siskins to the Cambridge Winter Hawks and even his stint in the OHL, Josh was known for rallying his team and always having his teammates' backs—even if it meant icing his black eyes afterward. He loved the game, but he loved his teammates more. Recently, Josh organized a hockey team for our Church community, the Saints, devoting hours to both cultivating great hockey on the ice and fostering deep community in the locker room. It was one of the highlights of his week.  

Josh also loved golf, especially playing at sunrise. He would wake early just to be first on the course, finding something special in that time of day—a space to think, enjoy, strategize, and connect with friends over 18 holes. He also loved to run, often seen running through the neighborhood, with his favorite spot being the Conestoga Bridge. If you haven’t taken a walk or drive there, it’s a must.  

Josh grew up in Waterloo and loved this city—not for its geography, but for its people, his community. During our drives, he would point out the houses where he,his family & his friends grew up, his grandparents' homes where he’d reminisce on special Christmas’s, the stadiums where he played hockey, and the schools where he won the Best Friend award. He loved all of you so much. No matter where we traveled, he was always excited to come home. He was content, at home.  

Josh, you are the love of my life, the hero of our children’s lives, the joy of so many, and you’ve impacted countless lives by making people feel welcomed and valued through your constant kindness, caring heart, authenticity, and generosity.  

As Josh used to end every note & card to me… we are all, So in Love. 

We love you forever Josh.

Share A Memory

I would love for as many people as possible to share memories of Josh on his Tribute tab at www.erbgood.com, so our family can continue to cherish and remember all of them.

Memorial Hockey Game

Anyone who would like to join Josh’s current hockey team in remembering him at their game Saturday night (September 21) at 6:00 p.m. at St. Jacob's Arena are welcomed.

Visitation

Visitation will take place at Base Church Bloomingdale, 850 Sawmill Rd., on Sunday, September 22, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The second visitation will be a chance for loved ones to share their moments and memories of Josh.

Celebration of Life

For those who would like to join us in celebrating Josh’s life, we invite you to his celebration of life at Base Church Bloomingdale, 850 Sawmill Rd., on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. A reception will immediately follow the service. The service will be livestreamed, with the link available on Josh’s tribute page through Erb & Good Family Funeral Home at www.erbgood.com and via the church website at www.base.church.  

Support

In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations to a fundraiser that has been set up to help support Josh’s wife and children would be much appreciated. Click here to visit the GoFundMe page.