Joseph N. Hallstrom Sr.

Joseph N. Hallstrom, Sr. died peacefully at the Maine Veteran’s Home
in Scarborough, Maine on Saturday, October 22, 2022.  Charles Erik
Hallstrom, a seafarer from Vastervik Sweden sailed across the Atlantic
and up the St. Croix River (border between US and Canada) to Calais,
Maine. There he met and fell in love with Katherine “Katie” Mae, the
only child of Joseph and Mary Hicks. They were married in 1916.  Joe,
the youngest of their four children was born March 28, 1928 in Calais,
Maine.

Joe spent his entire childhood at his family home on Monroe Street in
Calais.  He met his life-long friend Jerald “Brownie” Brown in
elementary school at Calais Academy and their antics were renown
throughout their childhood.  They went hunting and fishing together,
swam across the St. Croix River routinely to meet friends on the
Canadian side and got their first jobs at age 15 at Beckett and Co and
at the St. Croix bowling alley as a pin setter. Both were volunteer
junior fire fighters at the Calais Fire Department. This duo was
inseparable until they signed up to join the military at 18 years of
age.  Joe loved the water and always wanted to be in the Navy but
because he was color blind he was not recruited. He often told the
story of how he just walked across the street and enlisted in the US
Army. He entered active service at Fort Preble Maine on May 11, 1946
becoming a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne. In 1946, he took a
train to San Francisco where he boarded a ship with a few thousand
recruits and was sent to Sapporo, Japan, the largest city on Hokkaido,
the northernmost main island of the country. When he left Japan, he
was stationed at Fort Lawton in Seattle, Washington overlooking the
Puget Sound.  For his service he was awarded the World War II Victory
Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal, Japan.

After an honorable discharge from the military Joe went back to his
home in Calais and purchased his first vehicle, a light green 1932
Chevy Coup with a rumble seat and spoke wheels.  During a visit with
his sister in Eastport he met his future wife, Beverly Woodman.  After
a brief courtship they were married in 1950 and moved to South
Portland to raise their family.

Joe was a crane operator for most of his career at Bancroft & Martin
in South Portland.  He loved his work always putting safety first and
contributed to the fabrication and distribution of steel that was used
to build the Maine Turnpike and countless roads and bridges throughout
the State of Maine.

Joe was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and
gardening. He also enjoyed a good game of cribbage, metal detecting,
and watching the Boston Red Sox. These activities he shared with his
children and he took great pride and enormous pleasure spending time
with his sons teaching them these activities, who in turn, shared them
with their own children as well. He also had a special bond with his
daughter whose sense of self was greatly influenced by her
relationship with her father.  He was her best friend who taught her
how to take care of herself and be independent and was always the
first one she called when something momentous would happen.  He always
believed in her dreams and her ability to achieve anything that she
wanted if she was willing to work hard for it.  His love and support
for his family were unconditional and his children would strive to
emulate his work ethic.

Joe was everybody’s friend. When called upon for help he was always
there…even if he didn’t know you.  In addition, he loved animals and
all things in nature. Dogs were his favorite furry friends and he
enjoyed spending time with his grand dogs in his later years.

He recently received the Certificate of Appreciation from the Citizens
of Maine in recognition for his honorable service during World War II
in the Armed Services of our country for his sacrifice, courage, and
willingness to serve our great state and nation, and for his
contribution to the defense of freedom. A wonderful tribute to a young
man from Calais.

Joe is survived by his daughter Susan and his son-in-law Daniel Raposa
of York; grandchildren Jennifer Paquette (Jess Beebe), Jaimee Hanscom
(Bobby) and Jim Paquette (Emily Hansen); Joseph N. Hallstrom III
(Morgan Miles), Katrina Winchell (Scott), Kelly Woitko (Tony), Kristen
Hallstrom; and Jacob Hallstrom; Jesse Raposa (Neha) and Jenna Raposa.
Joseph is also survived by his great grandchildren Savanna, Robbie and
Sara Hanscom, Samuel, and Julia Clough; Lake, Live and Lovena
Paquette; Baylee Hutter and Keyshaw Winters; Hayden Winchell and
Joseph Hallstrom IV. He also leaves behind his brother-in-law David
Woodman and his wife Bonnie, several nieces and nephews and many
friends…all who held a special place in Joe’s heart.

He was predeceased by his wife Beverly B. Hallstrom (2007); his sons,
Joseph N. Hallstrom, Jr (2007) and David G. Hallstrom (2011); his
parents; his brothers, Charles S. Hallstrom (US Army) and Eric S.
Hallstrom (US Army) and his sister Ida M. Call.

An independent soul, Joe lived on his own the last decade of his life.
Recently, at age 94 he transitioned to the Maine Veteran’s Home (MVH)
in Scarborough. These last few months his grateful family witnessed
the dedicated, professional team of health care providers at the MVH
who provided him with compassionate and expert care until the last
moment of his life.  For that and more his family will be eternally
grateful.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Maine
Veteran’s Home at Mainevets.org/donate in support of others who have
served our country. 

A Graveside  Service with Military Honors will take place on Veteran’s
Day, Friday, November 11, 2022 at 12:45 pm in New Calvary Cemetery,
South Portland, Maine. 


 

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