WEST GARDINER – Joseph D.H. Grondin, 78, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010, at his home. He was born Feb. 23, 1931, in Augusta, a son of Desire and Nellie Violette Grondin. He served in the U.S. Army, May 25, 1948 – May 24, 1950. Joe was employed at Togus VA Medical Center as a surgery tech, retiring in 1986 after 36 years of service. “Junior” loved to go fishing and was an expert fly-tyer and constructor of fly rods. He could always tell you about the big one that got away. He also had exceptional carpentry skills, acquired from his father, Desire. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Theresa Quirion Grondin of West Gardiner; his son, Michael Grondin and his partner, Kyle Tardy, of Eddington; daughter-in-law, Krista Watson of Bangor; a sister, Laurette Knox of Sidney; three grandchildren, Seth Grondin of Brighton, Mass., Matthew Grondin and his wife, Jessica, of Brighton, Mass., and Ruth Grondin Clark and her husband, Matthew Clark, of Bangor; along with his great-grandchildren, Quinn and Linus Clark. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Robert; and sisters, Lorraine Beaulieu and Dorothy Wall. A memorial Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, at St. Joseph Church, Gardiner. Committal service with military honors will be after the Mass at the New Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. Arrangements are under the care of Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner.
JOSEPH D.H. GRONDIN
