Joe was born to Gene and Mary Catherine Doerr in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the second oldest of four boys. He is survived by an older brother, Edward, and two younger brothers, John and Daniel.

He attended Little Flower Grade School, Cathedral High School and Butler University. He started singing in Church Choir at the age of fourteen and continued until his death. He played the trombone in the band in High School and College. In 1953, he entered the Army and played the trombone in the Army Band.

On September 7, 1957, Joe married Barbara Jean Roth. They raised six children, Mike, Jim, Jean, Kathy, Janet and Carol. All six of their children graduated from College. Four of their children are married and they have eleven grandchildren.

Joe worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for several years. Starting in 1962, he worked as an Accountant for AT&T, first at Western Electric and then Lucent. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and served as their Treasurer. He and Barbara also worked on their Toys of Love Program.

Joe sang in different Knights of Columbus choirs from the middle 1950's and directed the Singing Knights of Our Lady of Fatima K. of C. Council from 1970 to 1985 and served as Director of Monsignor Downey Ambassadors K. of C. Choral Group from 1985 until his death. It was Joe's greatest joy to give honor and glory to God and pleasure to others with his voice and musical talent. He especially liked to entertain the elderly and his Choir sang at six or eight Nursing Homes each year. Also Joe led Sing-A-Longs at different Nursing Homes while accompanied by an organist.

He was very active in Nativity Catholic Church where he had been a member since 1962. He was the first director and directed the Church Choir for many years, and served as a cantor. His many other activities included Boy Scout Leader, collection counter, Blood Drive coordinator, Eucharistic Minister, and coordinator of Eucharistic Ministers, President of the Parish Council, Treasurer for the Parish Festival, and Treasurer for the United Catholic Appeal.

Joe retired at the age of 56. He and his wife, Barbara, enjoyed traveling, bowling, playing cards, and spoiling their grandchildren. After almost 47 years of marriage they continue to enjoy life and each other. Joe had many hobbies besides his music, including wood- working, wine making, gardening, and making wooden model boats. His family will remember Joe for his sense of humor, easy going attitude, honesty, enjoyment of life, and especially for his faithfulness in putting God and his family foremost in his life.

Joe was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Angela, who only lived for about 10 hours and by his daughter, Janet Lynn, who died at the age of 37, from Cystic Fibrosis on July 16, 2003. Joe recognized the shortage of organ donors because of his daughter's wait for new lungs on the Organ Transplant List. His final gift to others was the gift of some of his organs for transplant and medical research.