TOGUS – Joseph A. Bechard, 86, formerly of Lewiston, died Wednesday, June 27, at the Veterans Hospital, where he resided since 1989, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

He was born in St. Agatha, April 16, 1921, a son of the late Dennis and Catherine Cote Bechard. He served in the U.S. Army, where he was wounded during World War II, receiving the Purple Heart and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars.

He was a former member of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, American Legion Post 22, Lewiston and worked several years for Reynolds Tree Service and also in maintenance at the Rendezvous on Pine Street.

He is survived by his wife, the former Rita R. Lebel of Lewiston, whom he married March 4, 1946; two daughters, Jeannette Duchette, and husband, Paul, of Lewiston and Susan Bennett, and husband, Gary, of New Gloucester; six grandchildren, Alison Hill, Arlene Pride, Douglass Bronk, Jessica Cartier, Monica Sackett and Darcy Cartier; stepgrandchildren, John Bennett and Gina Dube; 17 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Yvette Beliveau, and husband, Roger, of Lisbon Falls, Theresa Howard of Winthrop and Marie Beale of New York; three brothers, Jean Paul of Edmunston, N.B., Canada, Ronald, and wife, Lyrette, of Scarborough and Roger of Grand Isle; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sisters, Arline Bechard, Agatha Bouchard and Germaine Chabot; and his brothers, Lucien and Claude Bechard.