Visitation will be at Miller Funeral Home Downtown Chapel, 507 South Main Avenue, on Thursday, August 8th from 4-7pm.
A Celebration of Life will be at Central Church in Sioux Falls on Friday, August 9th at 11am with a lunch to follow for fellowship.
Contributions in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Joe Quinn Memorial Fund at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.
Joseph Ryan Quinn was born in Hettinger, ND on February 19, 1978 in the middle of a blustery snowstorm. He died on August 4, 2024 from a tragic fall at his home.
Joe spent his childhood in multiple corners of South Dakota, and he made easy friends and meaningful impacts on everyone around him, no matter where he called home. From Faith to Rapid Valley, Sioux Falls to Webster, and finally Spearfish, he knew pretty much everyone in the state.
Joe’s early years in Rapid Valley were spent having strawberry fights with the neighborhood kids and watching over his little sister, Leah, who he fondly called, “Squirt”. He learned to ride his bike there, won lots of big wheel contests, and had many parades with his buddies down their one-block street, Kimm Drive. He lived in Sioux Falls during most of his elementary years and loved being close to his grandparents, Berni and Mac McMahon, and his aunt, Deb McMahon. Webster was his next home where he made lifelong friends before the family moved to Spearfish just as he entered high school. Joe felt right at home in Spearfish and found his place easily. He helped bring the Spearfish Spartans to many victories on the field in football and as a catcher for Post 17 in baseball. He was also involved in Student Council, Jazz Band, Improv, All State Choir, and he was crowned homecoming king.
Joe returned to Sioux Falls in 1996 to attend Augustana University and played defensive line for the Augustana Vikings. Go #57! He spent many days and nights in the weight room bulking up and building friendships with his teammates. He did visit the library once. He married Sam Hopper in 2000 and in May of 2006 his incredible son Taylor came into the world with a full head of black hair and the subsequent name of “Monkey”. After a move to Watertown, his darling little daughter Ellie was born in January of 2008 and was soon after dubbed “Peanut”. While in Watertown, Joe worked in sales and traveled the US, forming business relationships that became lasting friendships.
Time in Watertown ended in the summer of 2018 where he joined his longtime girlfriend Emily, and they started to build their Sioux Falls adventure together. They welcomed their sweet daughter Zoe in November of 2018. She loved to snuggle into Joe’s arms from Day 1 and was quickly referred to as “Bug” to round out the family of 5. Joe and Emily got married in June of 2019 with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis that coincided with a walk down the aisle. Treatments started thereafter and his “Tough as Sh*t” mentality carried him through a tough battle that he conquered with his family and friends supporting him along the way. He was touched by the outpouring of support from his community, and would give that support to others he knew were on that path, as well.
Joe was a dreamer. He saw visions of what things can be and how they can be executed. He crafted and remodeled homes alongside his dad and brother-in-law helping people in their dreams of what could become reality. This love of building and realizing potential parlayed into a career in commercial real estate where he could connect ideas to reality and people to potential, and his robust contact list showcases how relationships mattered the most. He loved ideas and believing and optimism and that business could be done in a creative way, rather than the traditional way. That spirit made people want to work with Joe and be a part of the journey.
He loved cinnamon rolls, and dark roast coffee with a few ice cubes to cool it down. And, donuts. Lots of donuts. And giant Hyvee muffins. He loved calling people as he saw them drive by to see if they would pick up. He loved making someone's day and he loved his family. His greatest treasure was seeing his children thrive and step into who they were as individuals. He loved seeing Taylor on the field in baseball and football and loved yelling in ice arenas because a W is better than a L. He was so proud of the young man and leader Taylor became, and encouraged him to explore interests such as Boys State, Student Council, and youth group at church. He was grateful to explore the arts with Ellie as she shined on stage and beamed with a smile in theater, knowing that the friendships she gained helped the performance be that much better. Joe and Ellie had so much fun together on their dad and daughter trips, and most recently traveled to New York. He was so proud of her and was her very best friend. He loved taking Zoe to school, every day, and he loved wrestling and teaching her how to be kind and polite to everyone. He loved encouraging Zoe to try new things like dance, swimming and whatever seemed to interest her in the moment. She was definitely a light in Joe’s eyes. He will miss seeing these kids grow up but now his view is just a little bit larger and he can keep track of them forever.
He will be missed. Plain and simple. We don’t know how this world will spin without Joe coming into a room and making everyone his friend, or without his long long stories with lots of background information. We don’t know how the seasons will change without Joe finding some joke, or playing ACDC too loudly, or smiling broadly and making everything seem ok with his arm around you and a hug that could take away all pain. We don’t know that because we never had to have a world where he wasn’t in it. He would want us to carry the torch of kindness, the art of telling a joke and lightening a mood, and he would want us to make our lives the best possible because dreams and people and relationships and friendships matter. “You matter” is a statement that could often be heard coming from him. There is a giant Joe shaped hole in the world that will never be filled, but we can only do our best to be our best and to make Joe proud.
