Joel A.L."Joe" Girard Jr

Joel Arthur Louis "Joe" Girard, Jr., 69, of Gardner, died peacefully Sunday, May 13, 2018 in his home, surrounded by family.
Born in Gardner on December 11, 1948, he was the son of the late Joel Arthur Louis Girard, Sr. and Hattie (Tatro) Girard.
Joel graduated from Murdock High School of Winchendon with the Class of 1966. He received an electrical certificate from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School of Fitchburg in 1982.
He was a United States Vietnam War Air Force Veteran and received the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Medal.
Joel was employed by New England Wooden Ware Corporation of Gardner for several years, prior to retiring in 2012. He was previously employed by Simplex Time Recorder Co. of Gardner and Westminster, and was also a delivery driver for Federated Auto Parts.
Joel was a member of Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 129 of Gardner and the Beagle Club of Gardner.
Joel was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. He enjoyed coaching and refereeing hockey, and playing cards. Joel loved spending time with his family.
He leaves his wife of 48 years, Susan Marie (Morgan) Girard; two sons, Eric Girard and his wife Doris of North Pole, AK and Chad Girard and his wife Dawn of Athol; one daughter, Heather Bassett and her husband Craig of Orange; five grandchildren, Kyle Moore, Kaden Girard, Rania Girard, Logen Girard and Nicolas Girard; one great-grandchild, Ezekiel Moore; mother-in-law, Mary (Borey) Morgan of Gardner; brother-in-law, Charlie Morgan and his wife Janice of Gardner; three special nieces, Alysia O'Brien and family, Cailyn White and family and Carissa Morgan; and his extended family, the neighborhood children, and the Gardner kids whose lives were deeply impacted by Joel.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, May 18th at 12:00 p.m. in the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner. Burial with Military Honors will be held at a later date in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Winchendon.
Calling hours will be held Friday, May 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to UMASS Memorial Medical Center, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Office of Advancement, 333 South Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545. Please make checks payable to UMMF, and reference in memory of Joel Girard.

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