JOSEPH KIRWAN

Funeral Services for Joseph Kirwan, age 77, of Gregory, were held Saturday, March 9 at St Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, with Father Jonathan Dillon as Celebrant.

Joseph Dennis Kirwan was born June 10, 1946, in Gregory to G.R. (Gerald Robert) and Margaret Viola (Turgeon) Kirwan. He joined Janelle, Jerry and Janice. Mary Jane was born five years later to complete their family. They were raised on the family homestead in the Fort Randall Valley, where many a Kirwan could be found. He attended a oneroom schoolhouse in the Fort Randall Valley. Joe walked to and from school with siblings, cousins, and friends. He went to high school at Pickstown High School. He loved playing basketball for the Pickstown Engineers. His 6'3' height was certainly an advantage, along with his athletic ability. After high school, Joe continued to work on the family ranch as he had done his entire life. He was a South Dakota Army National Guard member for six years. While he didn't make it a career, he truly loved operating large equipment as a Combat Engineer.

Joe met the love of his life, Twila Ann Kisley, in 1969. It was love at first sight, and he immediately knew she belonged with him. He didn't take long to convince her with his quick smile and easy-going manner. They were wed June 20, 1970, in Lake Andes. Joe and Twila welcomed their first child, a daughter, Monica, October 1, 1970. She became the next love of his life, as did his three boys, Jay, Riley and Colby.

They moved to Gregory in 1972. Joe was so excited to own his own ranch. He raised his family along with registered Hereford cattle for decades.

Once one son finished first grade, the next one would come along. Mike Dacy told them that once Colby graduated high school, it would be the first time in 32 years that a Kirwan kid would not be a part of the Gregory School District. Joe and Twila loved every ball game and music concert. Joe was an avid Gorilla, and if he couldn't attend games, he loved to watch them on T.V.

Joe was an honest, kind, generous, loving, and talented man who, above all, was humble. He found humor in everything. Joe was a man of many talents and hobbies. It couldn't be fixed if he couldn't fix it with a deer antler or duct tape. He invented and tinkered. Many ingenious inventions of his are used and enjoyed by his family and friends. He couldn't swim, but he and Twila spent much of their time with loved ones at the river. Joe's favorite hobby (hunting) became a business at some point. He loved wildlife and animals and understood them like no other. His love of hunting and his deadly aim became a beloved business where he included his children in the adventures. Because of it, he made many lasting friendships with people from around the United States. He talked constantly of this group or that group of hunters. There was a story and a laugh for everything. He and his grandchildren loved tractor rides. He built a tree fort for his kids and then rebuilt it with his kids for his grandkids.

If asked, his greatest accomplishments in life weren't the things he'd done. He didn't believe he'd done anything special except live and enjoy a happy life. No, his greatest accomplishments were his loved ones—the love of his life, Twila, with whom he still held hands; his four children, three daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren. They are his greatest accomplishments.

Joe passed away unexpectedly March 5, 2024, at Avera Gregory Healthcare Center at the age of 77.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, G.R. and Margaret, his in-laws Tony and Eleanora (Svatos) Kisley, his brother Jerry, and sisters Janelle and Janice.

He is survived by his love Twila, their daughter Monica, son Jay (Kristen), son Riley (Jerika), and son Colby (Halie), and his special grandkids Kate, Wil, Jordyn, Kaysen, Killian and Deklan, his sister Mary Jane, and many other Kirwan nieces, nephews and cousins.

When once asked by his small son what he was being paid to help a neighbor work cattle, he responded, 'I'll be paid in this life or the next.' His son immediately understood what he meant. Joe never expected to be paid for doing good for his fellow man. He passed on these valuable lessons, teaching his sons to be good men like him.