Josh Lee Boucher Jr.

Wednesday May 26, 2021.

He was born in Calman, Alabama on October 29 1933 to Josh Lee Boucher Sr. & Katie Thomas Boucher. He had an older sister (Bula), and three brothers (Elmer, John, and William).

Josh grew up in Northern Alabama and Lawrenceburg Tennessee.

He served honorably in the United States Air Force 1950-1954 as an aircraft mechanic stationed in Germany during the early years of the Cold War.

Josh was a Lifelong member of AMVETS Peoria Post 64 and American Legion.

He moved to Peoria after his military service and became a Peoria Policeman and then

transferred to the Peoria Fire Department when the need for Firefighters was a critical priority.

He retired with 35 years of service with the Peoria Fire Department and Police Department.

He was a proud Lifetime member of the Peoria Firefighters Local 50 Union and Illinois

Association of Retired Firefighters.

Josh was married to the love of his life Joan Wirsching for 46 years.

They enjoyed doing everything together. Family always came first.

He was a loving Father to Sharon (Thomas) of Arizona, Rodney (Marlene) of Hawaii, Karen

(Edward) of Missouri, and Brad of Peoria.

He was a loving Step Father to Nancy (Thomas) of Washington IL, David (Lynda) of Arizona, and

Paula (Garrett) of Ohio.

He was a loving and caring Grandfather to Jennifer, Molly, Joshua, Andrea, Natilie, Allison,

Derrick, Sean, & Gaven and Great Grandfather to eighteen.

Other survivors include several nieces and nephews throughout Illinois and Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Bula, his brothers Elmer, John, William, and

his son Brad.

Josh for many years had a successful small construction business that employed several fellow

firefighters, nephews, and his son.

Josh was an opinionated man who kept his own council unless asked.

When asked he enjoyed discussing differences of opinion on a wide variety of issues.

Josh and Joan truly enjoyed traveling for many years to visit family in Tennessee and spending

quality time in Destin Florida with new found friends from all over the United States and Canada

playing cards, dancing, and socializing.

One of his great passions was fishing and having fish fries for family and friends. Whether it was

on their pontoon boat or on week long summer camping trips to Lakes Chetek and Ojaskai in

Wisconsin.

After catching a day’s worth of fish he would spend 2-3 hours cleaning & filleting while talking

about fishing while watching the sunset with family and friends.

Two other passions were gardening and cooking.

For decades he had a vegetable garden that ultimately grew to a quarter acre.

He loved growing everything possible but especially proud of all the different varieties of onions

and tomatoes. “Nothing tastes as good as home grown” was what he would say as he cooked

or gave away bushel after bushel of vegetables.

Cooking hardy Southern meals for the family was a special treat for him.

He loved to teach his kids and his grandkids what was passed down from his mother & father

Josh was always appreciative of having loving family, friends, neighbors, and his caregivers.

They were there when he needed them and in turn he tried to be there whenever he could be

for them.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Peoria Firefighters Local Union 50.

Visitation will be Tuesday, June 1, 2021 from 5-7PM at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel.

Funeral services will be on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 10AM at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel. Burial will follow at Lutheran Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left for Josh’s family at www.davison-fulton.com.