Joseph J. Scherrer

Mr. Joseph J. Scherrer, 89, of 181 Academy Street, Salamanca, New York died Sunday morning (April 20, 2008) at the Olean General Hospital.

Born January 4, 1919 in St. Gallen, Switzerland, he was the son of the late Johann and Anna Gruber Scherrer. He was the beloved husband of Virginia Easterlin Scherrer. In May of 2007, Joe and Virginia celebrated the sixty-three years they had spent together

Mr. Scherrer was a 1939 graduate of Salamanca High School. His senior class portrait included a note he wrote about himself "... when I become a garden expert... " and a note his classmates wrote about him "... silence is simple for Joe..." True to those who knew him in 1937 he was a quiet man who loved travel, gardening, nature and reading. His love for and dedication to members of his family were always apparent.

He was a veteran of the United State Army Air Corp stationed with the 58th FTD at Hawthorne Air Force Base in Orangeburg, SC during World War II.

Mr. Scherrer was employed as the advertising manager at the Salamanca Republican Press prior to his retirement

He was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Peace Parish (St. Patricks) where he served as an altar boy and the St. Vincent De Paul

Surviving besides his wife are three sons; Mr. Joseph Scherrer Jr. Doylestown, PA; Mr. Jerry Scherrer , Salamanca, New York; Mr. James (Eliza) Scherrer, Coatesville, PA, two daughters. Beth ( Bruce) Hopkins, Geneva, New York; Jody ( Mark) Canavan, Doylestown, PA; seven grandchildren; Leigh Scherrer, Jarrett Scherrer, Liesl Scherrer, Sydney Scherrer, Katlyn Marchionda, Sarah Canavan, Amanda Canavan.

Mr. Scherrer was predeceased by his sister Ann Scherrer Pruner

A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of Peace (St. Patricks) on Saturday (May 3, 2008) at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Piotr Zaczynski as celebrant.

The O'Rourke & O'Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, New York is in charge of funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials to the Quadays' Memorial Fund, C/O Martha Nenno, 2662 Pleasant Valley Road, Olean, New York 14760. Quadays donations will be used to purchase a gift for the children of Salamanca. The gift - a sculpture of Degas' Little Dancer-- will be installed in the children's section of the Salamanca Public Library to commemorate the art appreciation organization's twenty-fifth anniversary.

E condolences may be sent to john@orourke-orourke.com