Joseph L. Kmita was born in South-East Poland in 1928 and came to Canada shortly thereafter. He grew up outside of Foam Lake, Saskatchewan and graduated from high school in Ituna. From there he traveled extensively in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, and Montreal and worked at various jobs including on an oil rig, surveying, working at a pharmaceutical plant, construction, and air traffic control. He met Audrey Farris in Regina and they married in 1960. They had five children: Cathy (1961), Joey (1962), Patsy, (1963), Julie (1964), and Donna (1967). He moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan around 1966 and worked in life insurance and real estate among other jobs. He was well known in Moose Jaw for his eccentric ways and his amazing pipe and hat collection which were sent to him from around the world by his children and which he wore proudly. He died suddenly on December 22, 2005 and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.