Joseph Matthew Rosebush

Calais - SSG. Joseph M. Rosebush, 65, passed away on Saturday, November 5, 2016. He was born in Greenville on February 18, 1951. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Anna M. Rosebush of Calais; his children; sons Michael L. Garron and his wife Aiza of Japan, Frederick John Rosebush, his wife Lydia and 2 grandchildren of Louisville, Kentucky and Matthew A. Rosebush, his wife Priya and 2 grandchildren of Ashburn, Virginia and daughters Michele A. Garron and 3 grandchildren of Biddeford, Sarah A. Follis, her husband Robert and 7 grandchildren of Calais, Kathleen M. Mori, her husband Rintaro and 2 grandchildren of Tipp City, Ohio and Orrinda Grindle, her husband Donald and 1 grandchild of Bucksport, and great-grandchild Hazel Grace of Calais. His sister Lynn Dutton and her husband Robert of Washington State also survive Joseph.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Mr. & Mrs. Perley LeClair of Bucksport; paternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Matthew A. Rosebush of Bucksport; parents Frederick John & Kathleen Pearl Rosebush of Bucksport, and granddaughter Madison Hope Stith Rosebush, of Louisville, Kentucky.

Rev. Rosebush graduated from Hopewell Valley Regional High School, in Hopewell, NJ in 1969, Boyce Bible College, Campbellsville University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He also attended the University of Louisville. He was a Member of the National Honor Society and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He was licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Hill Grove Baptist church in Guston, Kentucky and ordained by Dry Valley Baptist Church of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1996. He served as pastor of Dry Valley Baptist Church in Lodiburg, Kentucky, New Highland Baptist Church in Brandenburg, Kentucky, Baring Baptist in Baring, Washburn Baptist Church in Washburn, and assisted churches in need of a pastor or those interested in mission work.

Joseph served two tours of duty with the 1st Air Calvary, US Army in the Republic of Vietnam. SSG. Rosebush served as a Drill Sergeant, Squad Leader, and as Platoon Sergeant with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Division, US Army in Germany. SSG Rosebush was a lifetime member for the Veteran of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and a member of the American Legion.

Joseph was an amateur astronomer, and as a member of the Eagle Hill Super Nova search team, he and his friend Charlie Sawyer helped discover 4 supernovas. Joe was a member of the Downeast Amateur Astronomy Club and the Astronomy League. Both Charlie and Joe enjoyed sharing their love of Astronomy throughout the state of Maine.

Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another.~ Plato.

Joe spent many years in both a professional and volunteer setting working with families and children.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory to the following organizations: Sarah’s House of Maine: 346 Main Rd, Holden, ME 04429; Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility: P.O. Box 303-Prince Station, New York, NY 10012-0006; or Calvary Baptist Church: 46 Access Highway, Caribou, ME 04736.

A celebration of Rev. Rosebush’s life will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais. Burial will follow in Calais Cemetery with Military Honors.

Affiliations