AUBURN — Joseph E. Fisher, 70, of Sabattus died Thursday, April 29, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin after a long illness. He was surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Guerette, May 10, 1939, the son of Adolph and Gladys (Rossignol) Fisher and had been a resident of this community for most of his life.

He was educated in local schools and attended Lewiston High School. He then went on to proudly serve four years in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft loadmaster, where he was stationed at the Hickham Air Force base in Hawaii.

In November 1958, he was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award of the month. He was awarded two 1502 (heavy) Air Transport Wings and the ribbons representing this award from the 50th Air Transport Squadron. He also received the Good Conduct Medal for his demonstration of exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity. After serving his country for four years, he moved back to Lewiston.

He was married on Aug. 6, 1960, to Doris (Raymond) Fisher of Lewiston. In 1965, they moved from Lewiston to Sabattus to raise their five children.

He was a caring husband and best friend to Doris, his wife of 50 years. He was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. He was a dedicated provider and loving father to his five children. He was also very caring and generous to his precious six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, of whom he was very proud. In addition, he enjoyed traveling to the Canadian Sugar Shacks on the Senior Citizen’s buses and playing cards with his friends and daughters at the American Legion Post 135 of Sabattus.

He also loved fishing, hunting and especially camping, where he and his family and special friends, Moe and Judy Cyr spent several years enjoying the Northern Maine woods with their campers. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and all of his numerous friends.

He worked for several years for a number of companies as a trailer-truck driver, including O’Donnell’s, Sanborn’s Trucking and The Butler Brothers Co. He served on the Webster Elementary school committee and was the road commissioner in Sabattus for several years. Later he became a land developer and developed lots for his children and for other families.

He was a member of Webster School board committee, a parishioner of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Sabattus, member of the Sabattus Snowmobile Club, the American Legion Post 135 of Sabattus, the Senior Citizens of Sabattus, the Jacques Cartier Club and he was active in Masonics at the Webster Lodge 164 of Sabattus.

He is survived by his wife, Doris Fisher and their five children; J. Amanda and her husband, Steven Spencer, of Sabattus, Veronica Fisher of Sabattus, Joseph Fisher Jr. and his wife, Jean, of Leeds, John Fisher of Sabattus and James Fisher and his wife, Tammy, of Sabattus; his six grandchildren, Joseph Fisher III and his wife, Desiree, of Sabattus, Kevin Fisher and his wife, Marsha, of Lewiston, Steven Fisher and his wife, Katie, of Sabattus, Zachary Fisher, Sabrina Fisher and Gabriella Fisher, all of Sabattus; two great-grandchildren, Kevin Fisher Jr. of Lewiston and Scarlett Fisher of Sabattus; his brother, Adolph Fisher Jr. and his wife, Claudette, of Lisbon; his sister, Madeline and her husband, Gerald Thompson, of Seminole, Fla.; his sisters-in-law, Irene Delorme of Lewiston, Noella Robert of Lisbon, Rita Dorrington of Auburn, Pauline Severino of Pennsylvania, and Patricia Putman of Gardiner; his brother-in-law, Roger Raymond of Lewiston; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his father, Adolph Fisher Sr.; his mother, Gladys Fisher; his sister, Viola Cain of Florida; and his brother, Roger Fisher of Lisbon.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Maine Medical Center in Portland, Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and the VA hospital in Togus, for all of their help and support, and also the Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice agency for providing much comfort to us. Last, but most of all, to his cardiologist, Dr. DeVilla McCann of Auburn and to his primary care physician, Dr. Shannon Kenney.