Joseph Wiliam Justinak

Joseph W. Justinak
April 8, 2003-January 16, 2025
Joe Justinak, an incredible son, silly and loving younger brother, fun-loving and talkative grandson & great grandson, kind and helpful cousin, nephew & great nephew, died just short of the age of 22 on January 16th.
Born in Edina, Joe was lovingly raised in Excelsior, MN by his parents Marc and Carrie and doted on by his big sisters, Anna and Grace. Joe attended All Saints Preschool in Excelsior for (2) years, Excelsior Elementary for grades K-5, Minnetonka Middle School West and graduated from Minnetonka High School in June of 2021, where he earned a National AP Scholar with Distinction Award. That fall, Joe spent the next 10 months volunteering with AmeriCorps, Class 28. His Southwest Region unit worked on (3) multi-month projects: construction with Habitat for Humanity in Denver, reviving buildings and landscapes at YMCA Camp Classen in southern Oklahoma and, his favorite spike of all, in Jefferson City, MO supporting the resettlement of Afghan refugees through DHS' "Operation Allies Welcome". After AmeriCorps, Joe spent his freshman year of college along the shores of Lake Michigan, at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, where he had earned an academic scholarship.
From little on up, Joe loved being active and on the go! As a toddler and preschooler, Joe loved climbing trees, taking daily trips to area parks, picnicking with his sisters and visiting the library. From the time kindergarten started, all the way through his high school graduation, Joe could be found on a hockey rink, on a baseball field, or at a local golf course. From the ages of 5 to 18, Joe was an active teammate with the Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association, from mites up to when his sophomore and senior year high school Junior Gold Hockey teams made it to state. We sure loved watching you skate, Joey! During his spring and summer months of grade 3 up to grade 12, Joe played travel or rec league baseball with the Minnetonka Baseball Association. He even tried his hand at umpiring youth baseball games for (2) summers in middle school! Joe also played on the golf teams each spring at MMW and MHS. Outside of sports, Joe consistently made time for being involved with his church community at St. Therese in Deephaven. Here, he attended weekly Faith Formation classes, and received the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. During middle school, Joe was a camper at Trout Lake Bible Camp in Pine River, MN. Outside of sports and church, Joe loved volunteering! From delivering Meals on Wheels at Mt. Calvary in Excelsior, serving for (2) summers in high school as a Disciple Team junior staff counselor at Trout Lake, or cooking meals at Simpson Housing Services in Minneapolis with his family, Joe loved helping and connecting with others! Through these experiences, Joe earned a bronze or gold level national President's Volunteer Service Award, every school year, from grade 4 through grade 11.
Throughout his almost 22 years, "Curious Joe" (as nicknamed by his parents) had a myriad of interests! He loved art, especially drawing and writing cartoons in the style of author/illustrator Dav Pilkey. Geography was his passion and Joe has a vast collection of dogeared world, state and ski trail maps in his bedroom to prove it! Joe religiously added to his map collection during family trips and on ski adventures with his Dad out West...he was able to visit (30) US states during his 21 years of life! Funny though, for all of Joe's time that he spent with his nose in a history or comic book, he was also an ardent lover of nature and the outdoors! With his Grandpa John Weinberger and cousins, Joe pheasant hunted in North Dakota, spent hours talking around campfires with his cousin/close friend Andy and water skied up and down Butternut Lake, WI all summer long. With his Grandma Kate Fleury and his mom, he kayaked all around Cable, WI on the Brule and Namakagon Rivers, and explored every nook and cranny of Clam Lake, with his GK (Joe's nickname for Grandma Kate) and Grandpa Tim at their cabin outside of Hayward. With his extended Justinak Family of aunts, uncles and cousins, Joe swam, boated and water skied along the Chain of Lakes in Manitowish Waters, WI throughout the summer months. In the winters, Joe would downhill ski at Powderhorn, Whitecap or Indianhead in his Dad's UP hometown of Ironwood, MI. In Glidden, WI, Joe loved snowshoeing with his Schraufnagel Family relatives at his great aunt and uncle's cabins. Joe even cross country skied Lake Superior's "Book Across the Bay" in Ashland, WI with his Aunt Christy many times! Joe was the personification of enthusiasm and inquisitiveness!!! We will carry Joe's zest for learning and his love of God's Wisconsin Northwoods in our hearts forever!
Joe leaves behind his parents, (2) sisters, (3) grandparents, (9) Justinak aunts and uncles, along with their spouses, (41) Justinak 1st cousins, his maternal aunt and her spouse, (6) maternal first cousins, many Weinberger and Schraufnagel great aunts, great uncles, and numerous extended cousins from those families. To say that Joe will be missed & treasured forever is an astronomical understatement!
A private family funeral will be held on Feb 1, 2025, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fifield, WI. A private family burial will take place in June, outside of Cable, WI, at Clam Lake Cemetery. Following the burial, a celebration of Joe's life will take place at his home away from home, at his Grandpa John's house, on Butternut Lake, WI (details will be forthcoming).
Joe made the world a better place for having been here. Joe's legacy and example throughout his life was to be kind to others; to have respect for everyone and the unique gifts that each person contributes to society; to live simply, with a heart of gratitude and appreciation; to be of service and generosity whenever the opportunity arises; and to love your family fiercely and deeply.