Lt. Col. (ret.) Joseph M. Pilcher Jr.

Lt. Col. (ret.) Joseph M. Pilcher, Jr. of Kenner, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at home on August 27, 2025, at the age of 100 and is now with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Joe was an active member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church.

Joe was a graduate of the Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning in Lafayette, having initially earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After retiring from the United States Air Force, Joe went back to school, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Central Florida and the University of New Orleans, respectively. Following a career in the United States Air Force, Joe retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before pursuing a second career with the United States Geological Survey where he administered offshore oil and gas leases in the area now known as the Gulf of America.

Joe hailed from The Greatest Generation and was a World War II veteran, flying fighter planes in combat missions over occupied Europe following D-Day. After the war, he flew a variety of different aircraft, including B-47 and B-52 bombers, before retiring as the commander of the communications wing on an Air Force missile base. Joe was still going strong well into his 90’s when he sat for a fascinating interview with the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. The museum maintains an exhibit that includes Joe’s oral testimony along with that of other veterans.

Joe was patriotic, honorable and self-reliant. He will be remembered for his kindness and for his love of family and friends, with whom he recently celebrated his 100th birthday. He was generous and quick-witted, enjoyed a good joke and loved life. He adored his many friends, and loved traveling, collaborating on the daily crossword puzzle, and playing bridge, one of his favorite pastimes. Joe loved gardening, tending to beautiful roses in the front yard and an orchard in the backyard where he grew oranges, grapefruit, and figs that he proudly shared with friends and family.

Joe is survived by his loving wife, Anita Roberts Pilcher, with whom he shared his later years and who introduced him to his newest friends, Mollie and Winston, her gentle and friendly canine companions; his six children, Joan Relph, Joseph M. Pilcher III, Greg Pilcher, John Pilcher, Jennifer Pilcher and Mark Pilcher; his son-in-law Ray Relph and daughters-in-law Karen Pilcher and Helen Mavec; his stepson Kevin McKay; his siblings, Kenneth Dugas, Edmond Dugas, Jean Dugas, and Janice Walters; and many loving grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Miriam Fournier Dugas, and his stepfather Allen Joseph Dugas, his father, Joseph M. Pilcher, and his siblings Ronald Pilcher, Gwen Higgins, Muriel Webb, and David Dugas. He also was predeceased by his first wife and the mother of his children, Henrietta S. Pilcher, and by his second wife with whom he spent many wonderful years, Hilda Waguespack Pilcher.

Funeral services will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd in New Orleans, on Wednesday, September 3. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am with a Funeral Mass following at 11:00 am and Interment in All Saints Mausoleum. Light appetizers will be available during the visitation.