Joseph Michael DeDapper

Joseph Michael DeDapper, 52, of Berryville, VA passed away peacefully to the sounds of Queen on August 4, 2025, surrounded by his wife and son and a few of his dearest friends.

Born on December 5, 1972, Joe grew up in Mishawaka, IN, graduating from Mishawaka High School in 1991 and attending Indiana University South Bend before pursuing a career in technology & communications. He went on to dedicate himself to that path for the next 30 years, which allowed him to work with several talented and fun techies, travel to Europe, and, in the last several years, mentor younger systems engineers.

Joe met the love of his life, Kimberley Kline, online in the mid-90s - long before online dating services and apps. (They weren’t crazy, they were just ahead of their time.) Soon thereafter, Joe moved to Washington to be with Kim and start their next chapter together. They joined together as husband & wife on August 16, 1997. Joe’s career later brought them to Virginia, where they settled in their forever home and welcomed their son, Zachary Oliver (ZOD), in 2010.Family and friends will remember Joe’s obsession with his 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass with hood scoops and a 350 Rocket engine, his enjoyment of the band Queen, and the resurgence of his childhood love of LEGO in his late 40s. Joe’s LEGO builds inspired Kim and Zack to start building, giving them countless LEGO memories to cherish, including a family trip to LEGOLAND New York in 2023.Joe always had a knack for technology, gaming, and computers, making it both his personal and professional passion. Over the years, he met and befriended several people online and was able to stay close to high school friends despite the distance, role-playing with them regularly. Joe shared this tech-savviness with his son, as well as his niece and nephews. Joe was a phenomenal husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He drove his family, especially his wife, nuts, but at his core, he was the most loving, understanding, fun, and generous person. He was always ready and willing to lend a hand to family and friends, not asking for anything in return.He was preceded in death by his father, Jerome DeDapper, and his maternal and paternal grandparents.Joe is survived by his wife and son; his mother, Maria DeDapper; his sister, Erin Spencer (Charles Benn); his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Philip and Sandra Kline; his niece, Samantha Spencer; his nephews, Eric Spencer (Brianna Crawford) and Daniel Kline; and numerous friends he considered family. They will keep him close in their hearts, thinking back on the times they had together.My soul is painted like the wings of butterfliesFairytales of yesterday will grow but never dieI can fly, my friendsThe show must go on-QueenIn place of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Prostate CancerFoundation