LT. COL. JOSEPH QUINN

1938 - 2015

LT COL JOSEPH QUINN U.S. Air Force, Retired Joseph E. Quinn, 77, of Meridian, Idaho, passed away Aug. 9, 2015. He was born July 29, 1938, in Newark, N.J., to Francis D. and Helen V. Quinn. Joe was a resident of Las Vegas for 36 years. He and his wife moved to Meridian, in 2010 to be closer to family. He graduated St Benedict's Preparatory High School in 1956. He received a BS in mechanical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1963. At college, he was in the Arnold Air Society and ROTC. He was feature editor of his high school newspaper. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1963, with his first duty assignment at Eglin AFB, Fla., as an intelligence analyst. Joe met and married his wife, of 49 years, Carolyn (nee Spencer) Quinn of Niceville, Fla., while he was stationed at Eglin AFB. Their first son, Sean Michael, was born at Eglin AFB. His next assignment took his young family to Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio, where their second son, Andrew "Andy" Michael was born. He was assigned to the Foreign Technology Division Headquarters. From Ohio, he was assigned to Hickam AFB, Honolulu, during the Vietnam War and had the pleasure of welcoming the POWs home as they landed on the tarmac. After four years at Hickam, he was transferred to Nellis AFB, Las Vegas. After a year at Nellis AFB, Joe accepted a civilian job at the Nevada Test Site and continued his career in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He worked first with a Department of Defense contractor, EG&G, and later his job was converted to a Federal civil service position. During his reserve time he completed, in residence, 10 months of Air Command and Staff College, Montgomery, Ala., and also completed seven months of work toward an MBA, at Auburn University, Auburn, Ala. His last assignment before retiring was Commander, AF Intelligence Service (Reserves), Detached Training Site #38, Nellis AFB. His job in the U.S. Air Force was technical intelligence officer, specialized in Soviet/Russian ground-based air defense weapon systems. Joe spent over 20 years studying Middle East defenses and first 12 years or so studying Southeast Asia on Active Duty 1963-1975. He was an intelligence briefer for the Edwards AFB Commander and staff (as a reservist) for 10 years. He retired after 35 years of service on active duty and in the reserves and obtained the rank of lieutenant colonel, U.S. Air Force. Lt Col "Joe" co-taught Sunday school at Trinity Life Center Church in Las Vegas. Joe belonged to the National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) in the Nampa, Idaho and Henderson chapters. He also served as the newsletter editor for the Henderson Chapter. He was a lifetime member of Federally Employed Women and served as the Southern Nevada Chapter's newsletter editor. He coached youth soccer teams for many years and served as the president of the Vegas Valley Soccer League. Joe was a member of the American Legion, Post 151, at the Idaho State Veteran's Home, Boise, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis D. and Helen V. Quinn. Joe is survived by his wife, Carolyn; son, Sean, his wife, Jennifer, and their three grandchildren, Jeremy, Mandy and Natalie, of Battle Ground, Wash; son, Andy, his wife, Julia, and their children, Lizzy and Anna of Birmingham, Ala.; and cousin, Kathy Smallcomb (John) of Massachusetts. Services will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89123. Rev. Mordecei Jasper and Eldon Grauberger will officiate. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at noon, at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City. Family and friends are invited to attend a reception at the Christian Center Church, 571 Adams Blvd., Boulder City immediately following. Donations may be made to St Benedict's Preparatory School, 920 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Newark, NJ 07102-9128.