Lawrence, MA - Joseph (Joe) A. Guerin, 94, of Lawrence, formerly from Essex and Gloucester, passed away on Monday July 9, 2018 at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen.

He was born in Gloucester on May 15, 1924 to the late Joseph and Louise (St. Jacques) Guerin. He graduated from Gloucester High School in 1942 and worked briefly as a fish cutter at the Progressive Fish Co. before entering military service in 1943.

Joe served in the US Army Medical Corps in the European Theatre during WWII. After initially being stationed in Northern Ireland, his unit was attached to General Patton’s 3rd Army with the 5th Infantry Division. He arrived in Normandy a month after D-Day and saw action in France, Luxembourg, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. He was awarded the European Theatre Ribbon with 5 battle stars, the Combat Medical Badge and a Bronze Star for tending to a wounded soldier while under fire.

After the war, Joe attended the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1950. He worked as a pharmacist at Hudder-Parsons in Gloucester until he and his younger brother Gilbert opened their own drugstore in Essex in 1957. Joe and Gilbert served as the town pharmacists at Wedgwood Pharmacy for 39 years until their retirement in 1996.

Joe was also active in the community in other ways, having served for many years as an Assessor for the Town of Essex in addition to his work at the drugstore. He enjoyed coin collecting, square-dancing, traveling, the Red Sox, his ‘monthly poker games’, and anything involving history. He was a kind, humble man who always made time for his loved ones but was embarrassed when others did the same for him.

Joe was a devout Roman Catholic his whole life, attending St. Ann’s Church in Gloucester, St. John the Baptist Church in Essex, and St. Patrick’s Church in Lawrence.

Joe is survived by his brother, Gilbert Guerin and his wife Genevieve of Essex; his children Joseph and Judy Guerin of NY, Teresa Elliott of NH, Robert and Cheryle Guerin of Beverly, Jeanine and Dean Black of Rowley, Michelle Romanski of Rowley, Peter Brigham of Ipswich, John and Michele Brigham of NJ, and Michael Brigham of NH; and a daughter-in-law Joann Juser of NY. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Amy Morse, Kate Jacobs, Alex Mica, Justin Elliott, Davita Fitzgerald, Jennifer and Matthew Guerin, Megan Black, Brian and Kristin Romanski, Jessica Valter, John Robert and Thomas Brigham, Tracy Button and Lindsay Janos; along with 10 great-grandchildren; and 12 nieces and nephews.

Joseph is predeceased by his first wife of 22 years, Marjorie Silva of Gloucester; his second wife of almost 38 years, Mary (Dumas) Brigham, also of Gloucester; and a nephew, Steven Dumas of Magnolia.

Visiting hours will be Monday, July 16th from 4 to 8 p.m. at Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St., Gloucester. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 17th at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 52 Main St., Essex, with the burial service immediately following at Spring Street Cemetery, Essex.

For online condolences, please visit greelyfuneralhome.com.