Joseph H. “Joe” Stargel Jr., 86, of Gainesville, who served as a mayor and as a judge, passed away Monday at Northeast Georgia Medical Center after many years of battling Alzheimer’s disease. Stargel was born in Gainesville, and other than his brief time living in California while on duty in the Marine Corps, he lived in Gainesville his entire life. He attended Gainesville High School, joined the Marine Corps for his first tour of duty and came back to Gainesville in 1946, taking classes at night to earn a college degree.