JOAN L. (GUSE) PROBERT

SEARSPORT – Joan L. (Guse) Probert, 65, died unexpectedly Feb. 17, 2006, in Bangor. She was born July 24, 1940, in Cambridge, Mass., daughter of Leroy and Marian (Christman) Guse. She was raised in Prospect and graduated from Bucksport High School, Class of 1958 and from the University of Maine, Orono, Class of 1962. Joan worked as a substitute teacher for S.A.D 56, Searsport and retired from Peoples Heritage Bank, Searsport, as assistant vice president in June 2000, after 20 years of service. She worked for Central Maine Fitness Center, Searsport and was currently employed at Toziers Market, Searsport and Searsport Pines Golf Club. Currently serving as president of the Searsport Rotary Club, she was involved with the rotary supplying dictionaries for the local schoolchildren, the Red Cross blood drives and the golf tournament fundraiser. She had served on the S.A.D. 56 board of directors for 10 years and was currently serving on the Searsport Budget Advisory Committee. She was currently serving as a director of Waldo County Child Development, supported the Penobscot Marine Museum, was active with the Searsport Chamber of Commerce, the March of Dimes Walk-a-thon and 4-H. Always willing to volunteer for community projects, she had received the Outstanding Extension Volunteer Award in 2000. An accomplished artist, she did scenery painting for productions of high school theater and the Ebb Tide Players and had painted the Viking logo on the Searsport District High School gym floor. She enjoyed extensive traveling with her husband, Bruce, going to camp at Love Lake, kayaking, tenting with her family, picking blueberries and cranberries annually Down East, golfing with her family and friends and visiting and fishing with her dear friends in Blackville, N.B. She had a passion for reading, enjoyed cooking, gardening and was an avid University of Maine Hockey fan, rooting for them for 28 years at the Alfond Arena. She was a caring, generous person who enjoyed helping older people in their senior years and served as host family for two American Field Service exchange students, Joao and Elin. Most of all, Joan enjoyed playing with and shopping for her grandchildren. Joan was deeply loved by her husband and children and will be greatly missed by many including her two cats, Jasmine and Jenny; and her little black dog, Jock. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Bruce Probert of Searsport; daughter, Chris Hiney and her husband, Ed, of York; son, Brian Probert and his wife, Sharyl White, of Plymouth; granddaughters, Megan and Jillian Hiney and Sienna White Probert; brother, Gerald Guse and his wife, Claire, of Orland; nieces, Laura and Erica Guse. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her infant daughter, Jean Louise Probert. Visitation for family and friends will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the Young Funeral Home, 31 West Main St., Searsport. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, at the First Congregational Church, Searsport, with the Rev. Harold Grove, officiating. A celebration of her life will immediately follow the service at Curtis Hall. Private interment will be in Silver Lake Cemetery, Bucksport. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to carry on Joan’s love of reading to Carver Memorial Library, P.O. Box 439, Searsport, ME 04974 or to Townline Animal Shelter, Baker Road, Belfast, ME 04915 for her love of family pets.