Joe Messinio

On November 6, 2024, Joseph Patrick Messinio, passed away at the Hot Springs VA Medical Center after battling cancer for fifteen years. Joe was a man with a servant's heart. Never letting anything stop him from being there for those who needed help, Joe was always there to lend a hand regardless if you were a friend or a stranger. The hearts of those who loved him are heavy but grateful that he is now at peace. Joe was born on July 2, 1953 to James Vincent Messinio and Virginia Messinio. The youngest of ten, Joe was born in East Chicago, Indiana where he lived with his family until his sophomore year of high school. The family then moved to Lake Elsinore, California where he graduated from Elsinore High School in 1972. Following graduation, Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. and was honorably discharged in 1974. During that time Joe married the love of his life, Dottie, on January 6, 1973 and the couple was blessed with two daughters, Jennifer and Kristen. Joe was extremely active in his community. He was a member of the Nazarene Church and served wherever he could including getting his bus license so he could drive the church bus to pick up those who could not drive themselves to Sunday service. He took his passion for soccer and volunteered to coach and referee for the Wildomar Recreational Soccer League before becoming president of the league. After several years with the league, Joe became the high school soccer coach for Elsinore High School. Joe and Dottie moved to Oelrichs, South Dakota in 1999 where Joe continued to exercise his servant heart. Always there to lend a hand, Joe helped on his brother in-law and sister in-law’s ranch and he was known for driving around on his lawn mower mowing his neighbors’ lawns. Passionate about the well being of the town he called home, Joe served as the mayor of Oelrichs and a member of the school board where he tried to use his voice to make a difference. Joe was always humble about his time as a marine and he had a heart for thanking those who served before and after him. He served on the Chadron Honor Guard and after his retirement from Walmart in 2017, Joe began to spend his time volunteering for the Veterans Honor Interment. The rest of his time was spent fulfilling the role that Joe was most proud of; Papa to seven grandchildren. He was always loud and proud sitting in the grandstands of whatever sporting or 4-H event his grandkids’ were a part of. His absence will leave a hole in the hearts of those who loved him but the memory of the man he was will continue to live on. Joe is preceded in death by his father and mother, brothers, John, Samual, and Butch, sisters, Nancy, Carmen, Pamela, Rosie, and Antoinette, mother-in-law, Margery Doyle, father-in-law, Kenneth Doyle, nephew, Matthew, sister-in-laws, Susie Doyle and Evelyn Doyle He is survived by his wife Dottie, his daughters Jennifer (Dana) and Kristen (Jason), his seven grandchildren Kourtney, Augustus, Aaron, Cutter Sarah, Eli, and Kooper, and his brother Jim