Joseph W. Lahr

Joseph William Lahr, 85, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute in Fort Pierce, Florida. He was born in Phelps, New York, and moved to Lakewood Park in 1991, coming from Salisbury, CT.

Joseph graduated from St. Francis DeSales High School, Geneva, New York, and attended Long Beach Community College, CA.

He had been a member of Co. K 3rd Regiment New York Army National Guard. He served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1954. In 1953 he served with the 51st Fighter Group/16th Fighter Squadron at Suwon AFB (K-13), Seoul, Korea as electronics/radar gunsight mechanic on F-86 Sabre jets. With his squadron mates, he helped manage an orphanage in Suwon. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

He worked for Douglas Aircraft Co. in Long Beach, CA, as leadman on electrical crews for DC7 and 8 aircraft; Lakeville Precision Molding in Salisbury, CT as plant electrician; founded and was president of Staub Electric Motor Repair Service in Salisbury, CT, until he retired to do several years of ocean sailing on his 37ft. ketch Grey Dolphin.

Locally, he was a member of VFW Post 8058, served five years as St. Lucie County Election Official, and is a former member of Port St. Lucie Power Squadron.

Joseph is survived by his wife of sixty years, Joan, five children, John, Ronald, Anne, Daniel and Edward, and two grandsons, Jake and Luke. He was a moral and spiritual man, and loved his family dearly… a true gentleman.

A Catholic memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 10:00 AM at Haisley Funeral Home Chapel, Fort Pierce.