NATCHEZ — Services for Joseph G. Land Sr., 96, of Germantown, Tenn., formerly of Natchez, who died Sunday, March 20, 2011, in Germantown, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Len McRaney officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Mr. Land was born Sept. 25, 1914, in Algiers, La., the son of John Henry and Annie Kaiser Land. He lived in Cuba from 1919 to 1928, where his father worked as an engineer in the sugar mills of the United Fruit Company. After returning to the United States, he attended school in New Orleans.

In 1931, he was employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and ultimately became a licensed chief marine engineer on various government steamboats on the Mississippi River, such as the Mississippi and the Douglas. From 1946, to retirement he was employed by Johns-Manville Corporation in Natchez as a maintenance foreman.

Mr. Land was a member of Lovely Lane United Methodist Church in Natchez. He was also a member of the Natchez Harmony Masonic Lodge where he was elected to the position of Worshipful Master and achieved the 33rd Masonic Degree. While his wife, Lois, served as Worthy Matron of the Natchez Eastern Star Chapter, he served as Worthy Patron.

In 2007, he relocated from Natchez to Germantown, where he was a resident of Southerland Place Assisted Living Community.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Lois Gertrude Wilson Land; his parents; one brother, John H. Land Jr.; and three sisters, Christina Bulmer, Ethel Aucoin and Mabel LeBlanc.

Survivors include two sons, Joseph G. Land Jr. and wife, Carol, of Alexandria, La., and Robert Earl Land and wife, Sue, of Germantown; one brother, Edward Land of New Orleans; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, 65 Morgantown Road, Natchez, MS 39120 or to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.