Broughton Island (Jan 17/05) - One weekend in the middle of December, Jassie Kooneeliusee was spending time with some of his cousins.

But for three days, starting on Sunday, Dec. 19, nobody had seen him.

At around noon on Dec. 22, he was officially reported missing.

After searching for more than nine hours, police followed a trail of clothes, hat and boots, then turned the corner of a building to find the 56-year-old frozen to death.

The RCMP believe Kooneeliusee may have been suffering from hypothermia.

At the end of a hypothermic fever, people may believe they are hot and begin to undress.

Described by one relative as having a "big heart," Kooneeliusee was known for his willingness to help.

Whether it was bringing in someone's tools left outside in the cold, or lending a hand to get a community feast going or help someone move, "he would always be around," said Seemee Nookiguak, Kooneeliusee's cousin.

"In a way, he would bend over to help somebody. That's the kind of person he was."

Having lived in a house by himself for about the last 10 years, Kooneeliusee spent a lot of time alone.

He is believed to have never married.

About 20 of his 56 years were spent working at the Qikiqtarjuaq airport as the heavy equipment operator, removing the snow in the winter and keeping the dust on the gravel runway at bay in the summer.

He left that job last summer to work at the hamlet office as part of a contract to take out the runway he once maintained.

Kooneeliusee was a member of the Qikiqtarjuaq Ranger patrol.

"He would go out hunting, but not that often. He was stuck to his job," said Nookiguak.

He was very concerned with doing things right. When he was busy completing a project at work, Kooneeliusee could sometimes get a bit crazy, said his cousin.

"He would just sort of lose his mind over it. All tensed up because he's trying to do it right," Nookiguak says with a laugh.

An autopsy is being conducted to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role in Kooneeliusee's death.

Police do not suspect foul play.

About 100 people attended a funeral held in the community the first week of January.

Kooneeliusee's immediate family declined a request for an interview.