Joseph B. Garry of Whitewood, fulfilled his life’s work and completed his final project just before dawn on Saturday August 24th, 2024.
Joe was constantly in motion, always investigating ways to improve his home, his surroundings and himself. His interests were many and his bookshelves lined with titles about engineering, architecture, politics, nature, history and science in general. He enjoyed looking up at the night sky, fascinated with the origin and expansion of the universe and humbled by our small place in it. When he was not constructing projects, tending his lawn and trees or pondering planets and stars, Joe would often be found reading and journaling. If he was not deep into one of these pastimes, he was simply being Joe, a man that made the lives of everyone around him better. A great father, grandfather, spouse, brother, friend and neighbor.
Joe was born to Merle and Lena (Ramp) Garry in Deadwood, SD on August 6th, 1941. After high school he enlisted in the Army, taking a ship across the Atlantic to serve in Germany – thankful once on land that he was not in the Navy. Boats were not his thing. After the service, Joe began his decades long career at Ft. Meade VA Medical Center, dedicated to serving Ft. Meade’s veterans. He was also civic-minded, serving as a council member and mayor of Whitewood. Upon his retirement from Ft. Meade, Joe was able to devote more time to his true passion as an artisan. Joe loved to build and renovate, and willingly extended his knowledge and help to anyone. He built the home that he and his wife Sally raised their family in, and would go on to share his skills, experience and labor in each of his children’s homes through various renovation and remodeling projects.
We’ll miss you Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, Friend and Neighbor. Rest well.
Joe is survived by his special friend, Donna Stark; children, Christopher (Shauna) Sperle, Shane (Michelle) Garry, and Kiera (Dan) Marick; grandchildren, Ashton, Sierra, & Ireland Sperle, Breanna & Tessa Garry, and Savannah, Zach, & Brittnie Marick; siblings, Dennis (Viktoria) Garry, Carol Morris and Tom (Ann) Garry, along with numerous nephews, nieces and extended family. Joe is preceded in death by his soulmate Sally Garry, daughter Erin, father, mother, sister Rose Bourne and brother Pat Garry.
A memorial has been established.
The family invites all who knew Joe to share memories and stories on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 5 p.m. at the Garry home.
