Longmeadow-John A. Joseph, 89, husband of Jeannette (Malouf) Joseph, passed away, surrounded by his family on Saturday, November 22, 2014. Born in Ludlow, MA, October 26, 1925, son of Albert and Katherine Joseph, he lived in Springfield and Longmeadow his entire life. A graduate of Classical High School in 1943, he entered the military and WWII immediately after graduation. He served in the Army Air Corp in the Pacific Theater, between 1944 and 1946, actively participating in the invasion and support of 5 islands, most notable Okinawa, Japan. He was preparing to be part of an invasion force into mainland Japan when the war ended in 1945. He is decorated with 5 battle flags as part of his service. His stories of the experience in Japan are timeless and what clearly defined the character of the greatest generation. Upon returning to the US in 1946, John worked with his father, brother Paul and sisters Genevieve and Juliet to build Joseph's Manufacturing Company into one of the largest women's clothing manufacturers in Springfield for the next 30 years. In 1963, he went to Lebanon where he met his wife of 51 years, Jeannette. There they married and returned to Massachusetts to settle in Longmeadow where he lived for remainder of his life. He and Jeannette had 4 children together. In addition to his wife Jeannette, he leaves his son John and his wife Kelley, their 3 children, John, Jesslyn, and Brittany of Bolton, MA; son Richard and his wife Marni, their 3 children, Jenna, Richard and Gillian of Longmeadow; son George of East Longmeadow, and daughter Jacqueline (Joseph) Goslin and her husband Peter Goslin, their 2 children Grace and Peter of Mt Lebanon, PA. John Joseph was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Oriental Band at Melha Temple in Springfield. Over a 50 year span, he raised thousands of dollars for the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children and the Shriners Burns Institute in Boston. His children continue that legacy. Mr. Joseph's casket will lie in state from 12-1:00 pm followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at St. Georges Greek Orthodox Cathedral on 22 St. George Road in Springfield, Massachusetts 01104 at 1:00 pm. Committal Services will be held at Longmeadow Cemetery, behind the First Church of Christ, located on 763 Longmeadow St 01106. John Joseph was a witness to The Great Depression and World War II. These two events shaped his life permanently. His simple plan was to raise his family in peace in a nice suburb of Springfield and send each of his children to college to receive professional degrees from higher ed universities. He accomplished this mission and so much more. May he live eternally in God's grace. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that friends make a donation on behalf of John Joseph to the Shriners Hospitals of Boston. For more information please go to curranjones.com.