1940 – 2015

AUBURN — Joseph Roger Henri Lagasse, 74, of Lewiston, died Sunday, March 8, at the Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, with his family by his side following a short illness.

He was born in Lewiston on March 22, 1940, a son of the late Dominique and Mabel (Lachapelle) Lagasse, and had been a resident of this community all of his life. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Columbia University in 1975.

He had a career in the military, having served 21 years on U.S. soil, as well as in Germany, France, Japan and Thailand, and as part of the 589th Battalion A Company in Vietnam for a tour of duty from 1967 to 1968. Designations as received during military service include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and four Presidential Unit Citations.

Joseph enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling and volunteerism.

He was a lifetime member of the National Exchange Club starting in 1972, the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion. He spent four years of volunteer service at St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, four years on the board of directors of the American Red Cross, two years on the board of directors at the YWCA in Lewiston and was the head coach of the Lewiston Recreation “weeeeeos” for 11 years.

Joseph is survived by his wife, the former Gisele Irene Denis of Lewiston, formerly of Villeres-en-Hayes, France, whom he married on Dec. 5, 1958; four daughters, Dolores Robitaille and partner, Andy Castonguay, of Lewiston, Jeannine-Anna Levesque and her husband, Leo, of Lewiston, Anne Marie Fitzler and her husband, Michael, of Wilmington, Mass., and Dianne Durkin and her husband, Tim, of Plains, Pa.; his grandchildren, Steven Robitaille and partner, Heather Marsh, Scott Robitaille, Stacey Chase and her husband, Kevin, Ryan Lagasse and his wife, Stacey, Billy Gayton, Joshua Fitzler, Alex Fitzler, Angelina Davis-Durkin, Joseph Davis-Durkin and Corinne Durkin; four great-grandchildren, Aidan Robitaille, Morgan Chase, Ethan Lagasse and Ellie Lagasse; his siblings, Rita Berry, Jeanne Estrella and her husband, Abraham, and Leo Lagasse; brother-in-law, Claude Philippe and his wife, Nicole, and sisters-in-law, Elizabeth and Jinette Denis, all of Europe; and many nieces and nephews in the United States and in Europe.

He was predeceased by his parents, Dominique and Mabel Lagasse; and his daughter, Nicole “Nicky” Lagasse.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.