Joseph A. Gervais

Joseph Alcide Gervais, of Oshkosh WI, formerly of Howell, MI, passed peacefully on Oct 23, 2020. He was born on Dec 6, 1934 to the late Alcide Joseph Gervais and Virginia (Bloenk) Gervais. Joe grew up in St. Claire Shores, at the end of 10 mile with a canal for a backyard. At 12, when most boys had bikes, he resurrected an old sailboat that was sunk in the canal. He met his future wife, Eileen, at the age of 16. After several years of dating, he sold his sailboat to purchase an engagement ring. Joe always loved sailing. He participated in the Mackinac race several times, owned half a Lightning for a while and participated in the Howell Melon Festival Race. Joe and Eileen enjoyed travelling together and continued to enjoy sailing together. They often rented a sailboat and sailed around the Great Lakes. They also visited extended family all over the country.
After serving in Korea, Joe worked for GM and started a family with Eileen. They lived in Warren and later jobs took them to Bridgeport, MI and then Howell, MI. Joe started out as a draftsman at GM then went into sales for feeders, chucks, and other machine tools used by the auto industry. Part of the job was taking folks out for lunch. Joe enjoyed asking what food they had that would match his tie in case he spilled. His tie was often maroon or striped.
In 1980 Joe started his own company, JAG, INC, where he designed and built chucks for car transmissions. It was a family business. Joe sold JAG, INC in 1990 and went on to work for others until he retired. He and Eileen eventually retired to their cottage near Floyd Lake (not far from E Tawas), where they lived until they moved to WI to be closer to their son.
Joe leaves behind his wife of nearly 69 years, Eileen (Lubnau) Gervais; son, Keith Gervais of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; daughter, Susan (Gervais) Alderson of Augusta, Maine; two grandsons: Justin and Jacques; sister, Jeannette (Bloenk) Dabish, and several nieces and cousins.
He will be greatly missed.