Joseph A. Oertel died peacefully Wednesday morning at his home in Nashua, NH.  Born in Kaunas, Lithuania in 1940 and raised in Troy, NY,  he was a son of the late Jan and Louise Huszcza Oertel.  He graduated from Siena College and Georgetown University Law School. 
    Joe Oertel was a retired appellate attorney for the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, DC, and a builder of single-family homes in Northern Virginia.  He enjoyed spending time with his family, particularly his three grandchildren.  He spent many happy weekends rooting for their sports teams.  

    Joe was devoted to his Catholic faith and prayed the rosary several times per day. 
    Survivors include Agatha, his wife of 45 years, one daughter, Agatha Connelly, son-in-law Joseph Connelly, and grandchildren Adam, Ryan, and Rebecca Connelly, and one sister, Maria Meyer.  He is predeceased by his brother, J. Christopher Oertel.
    A mass of Christian burial will be held on Feb 24, 2024 at St. John Neumann Church, Merrimack, NH. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.