DETROIT – Joseph Ralph Schissler, 78, went to be with the Lord Dec. 11, 2005, after a courageous and prolonged struggle with ill health. Born April 18, 1927, in Southington, Conn., he was the son of Enos and Anna (Panella) Schissler. At the age of 15, he moved to Detroit. He married the former Maxine Field on Oct. 2, 1949. Joe served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1945 to 1949 and in the reserves for three years. He was a member of the Marine Corps League, the VFW and the American Legion. Active in town affairs, Joe served on the Detroit board of selectmen for many years and was a former tax collector. He started the first Boy Scout troop in Detroit and was an honorary life member of the Detroit Fire Department. Joe devoted 11 years of research and oversaw the design and completion of the Detroit Veterans Memorial. Joe was a rural letter carrier delivering mail from the Detroit, Albion and Pittsfield post offices until his retirement in 1987, due to declining health. He served as state president of the Rural Letter Carriers of Maine. Civic minded, Joe was a trustee for 10 years at Maine Central Institute where he was awarded the honor of Trustee Emeritus. He also served as chairman of the MSAD No. 53 board of directors. He was on the Sebasticook Valley Hospital board for 12 years. Joe served as Grand Knight of the St. Agnes Chapter of the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include his wife, Maxine of Detroit; sons Joseph Warren Schissler and Kim William Schissler, both of Detroit; daughter Anna Maria Curtis and husband, Mark, of Rockland; grandchildren, Ashley Miles, Brittany Schissler, Aaron Joseph Curtis and Allison Maxine Curtis; brothers, William and wife, Elaine, of Westfield, N.J., Enos and wife, Judy, of Etna, George and wife, Robin, of Detroit; sisters, Barbara Willis of Texas, Regina Schissler of Detroit, Natalie and husband, Fred Braley, of Troy and Elsie Autunno of New Britain, Conn.; a sister-in-law, Jane Schissler of Newport; many nieces and nephews. Joe was predeceased by his sister, Mary Krenisky; and brother, Donald Schissler. A celebration of his life and going home service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at the Calvary Baptist Church, 39 Grove St., Newport, with Pastor George Finnemore officiating. Interment will be in Detroit Village Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 33 Silver St., Portland, ME 04101. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal, Newport. For more information or to sign an on-line guest book, please visit www.crosbyneal.com
JOSEPH RALPH SCHISSLER
