Joe was born January 31, 1929 to Joseph Wheeler Percer and Helen Meyer Percer. He attended several Shelby County schools and graduated from Albuquerque, NM High School. In April 1952, he was called into the US Navy and served aboard the USS Mercury as a radarman. He earned his undergraduate degree at Christian Brothers College in Electrical Engineering while being employed part-time at MLGW. Upon graduation, he was employed by Columbia Gulf Transmission in MS and TX. Later he was employed with the Apollo Space Program in Huntsville, AL as a Design Engineer. In 1969 he returned to Memphis and was employed by MLGW until his first retirement.
Joe was always a hard worker, a wonderful trait that he passed on to his children. After his retirement from MLGW he returned to work in Huntsville, AL for the Army Missile Command working on the Multi Launch Missile. Upon retiring for the second time, he returned again to the Memphis area.
After his second retirement Joe’s strong work ethic continued to drive him as he often led devotionals at area retirement and nursing homes. In addition, during this time Joe and Nelle enjoyed traveling more. They camped throughout the United States, cruised the Caribbean and Baltic, followed Paul’s missionary journeys around the Aegean Sea, and toured Israel, one of their favorites.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Robert Percer (Rita), and grandson Michael Poole. He is survived by his wife, Nelle Casburn Percer; his brother, Doug Percer (Cecelia); his daughter, Amy Colombey; his son, Paul Joseph Percer; his grandson, Matthew Poole (Keri), and his three daughters (great granddaughters); his granddaughter, Lauren Poole; and a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, all of whom he dearly loved.
A funeral service will be held at First Evangelical Church, 735 Ridge Lake Blvd., Memphis on Monday, August 9 at 2:00. Visitation
will be prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: First Evangelical Church World Missions, 735 Ridge Lake Blvd, Memphis, TN 38120, or Groundworks Ministries, Inc., PO Box 382693 Germantown, TN 38183.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Percer family.
