I used to watch the show when we had cable and a TV. It always made me glad I did not have his job. I thought that anybody willing to get that close to potentially deadly animals either knew what they were doing, was out of their minds or a combination of the two.
He obviously loved his work and brought education about animals we share the planet with and conservation to many people who wouldn't have thought about it otherwise.
His death by freak accident from an otherwise relatively innocuous animal is definitely touched by irony, but is nothing to laugh at.

He did what he loved, put his life on the line to raise awareness and help protect endangered species even though he knew the dangers, and you make jokes about it? For God's sake, the man was 44 years old and had a wife and two little kids, show some respect. How would you like it if someone you cared about died doing their job and people made lame jokes about it?

Plenty of people do jobs that are dangerous because they love them and know they can do some good in this world, despite the risks to themselves. Is it funny when they die on the job?

He made a difference, and he'll be remembered for that. What are you going to be remembered for? Making light of the misfortune and grief of others? That's a great legacy.