2003 Lamoine Town Report
Dedicated to the
Memory Of:
Joseph H.
Lear, Jr. (July 13, 1927 to January 21,
2004)
Joe Lear was a native Lamoiner, and a good argument could be made that no one knew the town as well as Joe. He was a history buff and was instrumental in founding and keeping the Lamoine Historical Society a vital organization. He carefully researched innumerable aspects of the town’s history, but there was a lot more to Joe, and much of it revolved around the town. He assisted the Road Commissioner for a while, back when the road commissioner actually plowed the streets. He was one of Lamoine’s constables, patrolling town to keep an eye on things.
Perhaps the biggest contribution Joe made to Lamoine has to do with cemeteries. Joe rooted out all the small family burial plots around town, and was a key member of the Old Cemetery Association of Maine. Each Memorial Day, Joe made sure that every Veteran’s grave was marked with the American Flag and the proper holder to signify the Vet’s time of service. Though it’s a state law that the towns perform this function, it was Joe’s sense of love for his fellow Veterans and sense of honor and duty that likely motivated him to take such good care.
Joe was a career military man, serving in the Army in World War II, and in the Air Force for the remainder of his career, including two hitches in Viet Nam. During his time in the Far East, Joe befriended a Vietnamese orphan named Kimiko, and had once thought about adopting her to add a 3rd daughter to his family back home. He used to bring ice-cream to the little girl each day at the orphanage. Tragically, Kimiko was killed during the War, and Joe’s heart was broken. When he came back home, Joe annually made sure that each child in Lamoine got a free ice cream cone once a year, usually at the Lamoine School Halloween party.
Joe had a love for the ocean waters around the Lamoine area, and served as the harbor master in Ellsworth for many years. He developed a special bond with his grand-daughter Lacie on his big old boat in his final years.
The town will greatly miss Joe who contributed quietly so much to making Lamoine the type of town we can be proud of. We wish the best to his wife Billie, who’s one of our ballot clerks, and to his daughters and grand-children of whom he was so proud. Thank-you Joe!