Joseph Blanchard, 82

Joseph Arthur Blanchard, age 82, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, Feb. 5, 2021, in Richmond Hill, Ga.
He was born May 18, 1938, in Sturgis, a son of the late Alfred A. “Fred” and Naomi May (Boals) Blanchard.
Joseph had been a resident of Sturgis most of his life, except for a couple of recent years living in Georgia.
On Feb. 28, 1970, he married Gerda Schuler in Gatlinburg, Tenn.,
He had been employed throughout his life driving truck for Continental Can, Sturgis Iron and Metal, ATL (Associated Truck Lines) and also as an independent. He also owned and operated a convenience store for a few years. After he retired, he and Gerda delivered campers across the United States.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Germany.
Surviving are his wife, Gerda; a son, Tony Blanchard of Sturgis; a daughter, Kathy Taylor of Carlisle, Pa.; four grandchildren, Hayley, Ashlyn, Makayla and Kadence; a great-granddaughter, Sarah; and a brother, John (Barb) Blanchard of Sturgis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sons, William “Billy” Blanchard and Richard “Rick” Harmon.
The family will receive friends and relatives from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Rosenberg Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 807 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restriction of gatherings, limitation of no more than 25 people in the funeral home at a time will be followed and face masks are required.
Services celebrating the life of Joseph A. Blanchard will be held at 2 p.m., immediately following visitation, at the funeral home. The Rev. Sue Babb, First United Methodist Church, will officiate.
Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery, with full military honors conferred by Capt. John J. Kelley V.F.W. Post #1355 and the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
Memorial donations may be directed to First United Methodist Church. Envelopes are available at Hackman Family Funeral Homes, which has been entrusted with the arrangements.
His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.