Joseph O. Caissie, Jr. passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester. He was born and raised in Worcester, the son of Joseph and Ethel (Cunningham) Caissie.

He graduated from Worcester Boys Trade School and went on to honorably serve his country in the U.S. Army as a Tech 5 during WWII. He volunteered in Operation Crossroads, an atomic testing unit in the Bikini Islands. Joe later worked at Reed Rolled Thread & Die in Holden for 33 years, retiring in 1988.

The ultimate “do-it-yourself” man, Joe did all the home and yard work and car repairs. Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing, long walks in the woods, classical and country music. He and his wife traveled to the Cape Cod Canal to fish and ride bikes. They vacationed at Scusset Beach and in Ft. Myers Beach, FL. He was a 33-year member of the Rutland Sportsman’s Club, a life member of the DAV, and member of the NRA.

Joe leaves his wife of 57 years, Beverly (Maranda) Caissie; a son, Joseph O. Caissie III of Pepperell; a daughter, Mary Jansen of Colorado Springs, CO; his grandchildren, Brennan and Colin Caissie; his former daughter-in-law, Cathleen Roughan, a close member of the family; his brothers, Arthur Caissie of Worcester, Russell Caissie of Oxford, David Caissie of California and Dennis Caissie of Maine; his sisters, Janet Couture of Oxford, Roberta Hannon of Oxford, Ethel Boissonault of Springfield and Leona Parker of Florida. He was predeceased by his son, James Caissie in 1979; his brothers, Leonard Caissie, Barry Caissie and Robert Bailey who died serving in the Canadian Air Force; and his sisters, Lois Forleo and Frances Wheeler.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden, followed by a funeral celebrating Joe’s life at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Worcester County Food Bank, 474 Boston Rd., Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or Veteran’s Inc., 69 Grove St. Worcester, MA 01605.