Joseph Lawrence Sherburne

1942 - 2023

PORTVILLE - Joseph Lawrence Sherburne, of Portville, passed away unexpectedly Monday, June 26, 2023, at Olean General Hospital.

Joe was born Dec. 22, 1942, in Olean, the son of the late Joseph F. and Bessie Sherburne.

He was a graduate of Olean High School. Joe was employed at the Olean Tile Plant until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1964. He served as an elite paratrooper with the 503rd Infantry Division/173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers) in Okinawa and Vietnam, where he eventually sustained severe multiple combat injuries and was honorably retired.

After retiring from active-duty service, Joe worked briefly at the City of Olean Water Treatment Plant until he transitioned to the City of Olean Fire Department as a professional firefighter, paramedic and emergency medical technician at Olean General Hospital for 38 years until his retirement.

He was a patron of the American Legion, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the Wounded Warrior Project and a former member of the City of Olean Firefighters Union. He was a parishioner of St. Mary of the Angels Basilica in Olean.

Joe was an avid and longtime outdoor sportsman with a passion for hunting, fishing and boating. He loved sharing these skills and collections with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Stella Silva Sherburne of Portville; his three daughters, Christine Sherburne Framstad, Trisha Sherburne and Lisa (Tom) Sherburne Pienkos; and six grandchildren, Catherine Elisabeth (Jason Estes), Ian Patrick, Eric Joseph, Anna Catherine, Nora Therese and Mary Elisabeth Rose; along with his beloved and faithful dog, Luca. He is also survived by his older brother, Gary (Maryann) Sherburne of State College, Pa.; and several beloved nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his two older brothers, Ronald and Dale; and his sister, Carol (Sue) Limerick.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday (July 7, 2023) at Guenther Funeral Home, Inc., 1303 E. State St., Olean. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday (July 8, 2023) at the St. Mary of the Angels Basilica. Dates and information regarding a military burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, will soon follow.

Memorials and donations, if desired, may be made to the American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund; the Wounded Warrior Project; or your local SPCA.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.guentherfh.com.