Joseph Lahiere

Joseph Louis Lahiere, 86, of Huntsville, Ala., was called away by our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. He passed in the loving arms of his wife of 55 years, Astrid. Joe was born to Joseph and Josephine Lahiere in New Brunswick, N.J. He was an excellent student and athlete, and was a table tennis champion, as well as an All-State shortstop. Although drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, his baseball career was interrupted by a call to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. Following Josephs honorable discharge from military service, he earned a Bachelors degree from the University of Chattanooga, and later a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Alabama A&M University.Joe served the U.S. government for over 32 years, first as an industrial engineer at Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, and later as Assistant to the Inspector General for the Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville. Following his government service, Joseph was a local realtor and taught real estate at several Huntsville colleges.While in Mobile, Joe met and married the love of his life, Astrid Delores Carlson. Joe and Astrid had two sons, Richard and Julien. Joe loved his family dearly. Through his words and actions, he taught his sons the importance of leading a Christian life focused on the family. Joe loved people and they loved him, he had a wonderful sense of humor, and he left a lasting, positive impact on everyone he met. Joe enjoyed seeing new places with his family, and they have countless joyous memories from their many trips together. Joseph was a very enthusiastic Christian, and was a long-time member of St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church.Joe is survived by his wife, Astrid; by his sons, Richard Joseph Lahiere and Julien Louis Lahiere, and their partners, Elisabeth Pizutelli and Terri Featherston; and by his brother, Robert Caball Lahiere and his wife, Ellen. He is survived by and was affectionately known as "Poopsie" by his grandchildren, Jamie Katrina Lahiere, and John Paul Joseph Lahiere, and other important children in his life, Nicholas Pizutelli, and Will and Jenna Featherston.Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Huntsville, Ala. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Saint Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastors Dennis R. Fakes and Otto Wood officiating.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Huntsville Humane Society, CASA of Madison County, and the Downtown Rescue Mission.