NORWICH – Joseph James Lorimer, 49, life-long Norwich resident, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday evening, April 8, 2008, in the Wilson Regional Hospital in Johnson City.
The son of Duane and Rose (Magistro) Lorimer, Joe was born in May of 1958. Growing up in Norwich, he was active in Norwich High sports, especially the wrestling program, and was a 1976 graduate of Norwich High School. He and his wife, Michelle Proskine Lorimer, were married in Norwich on Sept. 20, 1980. He spent 10 years working for Victory Markets, then gained employment with Laral Management in May of 1993, where he helped them operate their properties. Joe was very involved in the Norwich community. Building on his sports interest and his wrestling prowess, he coached Little League and Pee Wee Wrestling teams, and devoted many hours and much hard work to various community efforts and festivals, including the Norwich Pumpkin Festival which he had co-founded with his wife Michelle. During leisure hours, Joe loved being outdoors. He loved camping and hunting, and one of his joys was to take his boat to Sylvan Beach’s Hidden Point and onto Oneida Lake.
Joe is survived by his wife, Michelle Lorimer of Norwich; by his sons, Brett Lorimer and fiancee Lacey Hill, and Kyle Lorimer, all of Norwich; and by his granddaughters, Hannah Straley and Emma Lorimer. He is also survived by his sisters and brother and their spouses: Elaine and Robert Burton, Mary and Charles Neadom, and Richard “Bonz” and Virginia Lorimer, all of Norwich; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Shirley and Alynn Proskine; sisters-in-law: Lianne Sprague and husband Denny of Guilford, Martha and Ron Vidler of Norwich, Marilyn and Jim Oliver of Norwich, and Alison Proskine of South New Berlin; brother-in-law, Zachary Proskine and wife Amy of Gilbertsville; and his camp family: Ziggy and Diane, Guy and Darlene, Jim and Maureen, and P.K. Joe was predeceased by his brother, George Lorimer.
Funeral services for Joe will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday from the Broad Street United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jeff Hale, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in the Foster Cemetery of Norwich. Friends are invited to call at the Broad Street United Methodist Church on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to the Norwich Pumpkin Festival, c/o Norwich BID, 1 City Plaza, Norwich, NY 13815; to the American Heart Association, Hearts Gifts Processing Center, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220; or to the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech St., Johnson City, NY 13790.
Arrangements are by the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home.