Joseph J. Habel, 77
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Joseph John Habel, 77, of Spring Hill, Fla., formerly of North Adams, died Wednesday, June 1, 2011, in Spring Hill.
Born in Beach Glen, N.J., on Aug. 25, 1933, son of Phillip E. and Ione Pratt Habel, he lived in New Jersey until age 12, when he moved to Randolph, Vt. He attended schools in New Jersey and Vermont.
Mr. Habel began his working career as a tree trimmer with F.A. Bartlett Tree Co. for two years. He then joined the Asplundh Tree Co. as a foreman, working in the North Adams area and later in the Clearwater, Fla., area, for 42 years until his retirement.
He enjoyed his family, yard work, gardening and cars. He was a member of the former First United Methodist Church of North Adams.
His first wife, the former Nancy Lee Grassette, died in September 1987.
He leaves his wife, Judith A. Mullins Habel, whom he married on March 10, 1989, in Clearwater; a son, Joseph A. Habel and his wife, Angela, of North Adams; three stepdaughters, Cheri E. Noble and her husband, Corey, and Lynn M. Potter and her husband, Ted, all of the state of Florida, and Donna S. Russell and her companion, Scott, of Alabama; two stepsons, Edward J. Coyne Jr. and his wife, Cindy, and Carlton T. Coyne and his wife, Tammy, all of Bennington, Vt.; three sisters, Katherine Adkins of Maine, Florence Dalyrmple of New Jersey and Gladys Luczynski of North Adams; a brother, Clarence Habel of Vermont; a granddaughter, Jessie Lynn Habel Lavin and her husband, Thomas, of Montauk, N.Y.; two grandsons, Joshua Joseph Habel and his fiancée, Erica Rehnberg, of Templeton and Joel John Habel and his companion, Brittany Walker, of Suffield, Conn.; five great-grandchildren, Raven Amber Biondo, Brooke Sienna Lavin and Landon Thomas Lavin, all of Montauk, N.Y., and Madeleine Anna Habel and Morgan Avery Habel, both of Templeton; 12 step-grandchildren, six stepgreat-grandchildren and nieces, nephews and his loving cat, Duchess.
He was predeceased by his brother, Wallace Habel.
FUNERAL NOTICE — The funeral for Mr. Habel will be Monday, June 6, at 11 a.m. from Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, Mass. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Sunday from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to HPH Hospice, 12107 Majestic Blvd, Hudson, FL 34667 or Humane Society of the Nature Coast, PO Box 10328, Brooksville, FL 34603.