Obituary for Joseph Warren DuBay
Joseph “Joe” Warren DuBay, 65, of Richfield, MN passed away on November 25, 2022 after a courageous battle with Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
He is survived by his adoring wife of 42 years, Pamela “Pam”; son Matthew (Jean); grandchildren, Dexter, Daphne and Daisy May DuBay; siblings, John (Betsy) DuBay, Jimmy (Marilyn) DuBay, Janice Huisenga, Jeffrey (Doreen) DuBay, Jay DuBay; many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Jerome DuBay; parents, James and Ruth (Warren) DuBay; sister Jacqueline Leithauser; and niece, Mallory Leithauser.
Joe was born on July 16, 1957 in St. Paul, MN. He spent much of his childhood in White Earth, MN at Net Lake helping his Grandma Tamuck rent boats to fishermen. Joe attended grade school at Holy Spirit School and he graduated from Highland Park High School in 1975. Joe spent many years as a member in the St. Paul Scouts Drum Corp and even became a Drum Major. Joe made numerous lifelong friends and travelled throughout the country with the Corp. Joe went on to attend Staples Area Vocational Technical Institute (AVTI) for Heavy Equipment Operation.
While attending AVTI Joe met Pam Manning and they were married on August 9, 1980. They soon moved to Virginia, MN where Joe worked at Minntac Ore Mine for two years before moving to Bloomington where Joe began a 40 year career at the City of Bloomington Streets Department. He spent a lot of time operating Bloomington’s street sweepers, front-end loaders and snowplows until his retirement in July 2022.
Joe and Pam welcomed Matthew in 1982 and moved to Richfield where they remained until he passed. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandpa. He spent many years as a leader of Boy Scout Troop 384 in Richfield, continuing on even after Matt earned his Eagle Scout. Joe truly embraced life as a dad and loved spending time with Matt: fishing on the river, hunting with family up north, going to the family cabin on Net Lake, and working a paper route among countless other fun activities Matt will cherish forever.
Joe’s role as a father was only compounded when he became a grandfather in 2013, soon to be nicknamed “Papa”. He was seemingly born to be a Papa and had anticipated the role for many years, even practicing his baby-holding skills and becoming “The Baby Whisperer” to so many! His ability to cuddle ALL the babies and have them fall fast asleep on his chest in minutes was almost magical. Papa spent countless hours taking Dexter, Daphne & Daisy May; whom he often referred to as “The 3Ds”, on exciting adventures and answering their endless questions during the last nine years of his life. The amount of love, patience and care he poured into his grandbabies can never truly be fully described and he will never be forgotten by his three favorite kids.
Joe enjoyed spending his time with family and friends; walking everyone’s dogs, fishing, hunting, reading, appreciating motorcycles and fast cars, admiring trains and devoting his life to his Catholic faith. He enjoyed visiting with everyone he met about any topic and always had a story or two to tell. Joe had a vast thirst for knowledge, even learning Italian in preparation for trips to Rome. Joe loved to travel around the globe with Pam and their long-time friends throughout the years. Joe will be dearly missed by so many, as he was a friend to all. We will never be the same having had him in our lives. He will live on in cherished memories forever. We already miss you so much Papa.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in memory of Joe to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
A service to honor Joe's life will be on Friday, December 2, 2022 at the Church of St. Peter in Richfield, Minnesota. Mass will begin at 11:00 am with a visitation one hour prior to the service. There will be a visitation the night prior on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at Gill Brothers Funeral Home in Bloomington, Minnesota from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm with a rosary service beginning at 6:30 pm.
He is survived by his adoring wife of 42 years, Pamela “Pam”; son Matthew (Jean); grandchildren, Dexter, Daphne and Daisy May DuBay; siblings, John (Betsy) DuBay, Jimmy (Marilyn) DuBay, Janice Huisenga, Jeffrey (Doreen) DuBay, Jay DuBay; many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Jerome DuBay; parents, James and Ruth (Warren) DuBay; sister Jacqueline Leithauser; and niece, Mallory Leithauser.
Joe was born on July 16, 1957 in St. Paul, MN. He spent much of his childhood in White Earth, MN at Net Lake helping his Grandma Tamuck rent boats to fishermen. Joe attended grade school at Holy Spirit School and he graduated from Highland Park High School in 1975. Joe spent many years as a member in the St. Paul Scouts Drum Corp and even became a Drum Major. Joe made numerous lifelong friends and travelled throughout the country with the Corp. Joe went on to attend Staples Area Vocational Technical Institute (AVTI) for Heavy Equipment Operation.
While attending AVTI Joe met Pam Manning and they were married on August 9, 1980. They soon moved to Virginia, MN where Joe worked at Minntac Ore Mine for two years before moving to Bloomington where Joe began a 40 year career at the City of Bloomington Streets Department. He spent a lot of time operating Bloomington’s street sweepers, front-end loaders and snowplows until his retirement in July 2022.
Joe and Pam welcomed Matthew in 1982 and moved to Richfield where they remained until he passed. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandpa. He spent many years as a leader of Boy Scout Troop 384 in Richfield, continuing on even after Matt earned his Eagle Scout. Joe truly embraced life as a dad and loved spending time with Matt: fishing on the river, hunting with family up north, going to the family cabin on Net Lake, and working a paper route among countless other fun activities Matt will cherish forever.
Joe’s role as a father was only compounded when he became a grandfather in 2013, soon to be nicknamed “Papa”. He was seemingly born to be a Papa and had anticipated the role for many years, even practicing his baby-holding skills and becoming “The Baby Whisperer” to so many! His ability to cuddle ALL the babies and have them fall fast asleep on his chest in minutes was almost magical. Papa spent countless hours taking Dexter, Daphne & Daisy May; whom he often referred to as “The 3Ds”, on exciting adventures and answering their endless questions during the last nine years of his life. The amount of love, patience and care he poured into his grandbabies can never truly be fully described and he will never be forgotten by his three favorite kids.
Joe enjoyed spending his time with family and friends; walking everyone’s dogs, fishing, hunting, reading, appreciating motorcycles and fast cars, admiring trains and devoting his life to his Catholic faith. He enjoyed visiting with everyone he met about any topic and always had a story or two to tell. Joe had a vast thirst for knowledge, even learning Italian in preparation for trips to Rome. Joe loved to travel around the globe with Pam and their long-time friends throughout the years. Joe will be dearly missed by so many, as he was a friend to all. We will never be the same having had him in our lives. He will live on in cherished memories forever. We already miss you so much Papa.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in memory of Joe to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
A service to honor Joe's life will be on Friday, December 2, 2022 at the Church of St. Peter in Richfield, Minnesota. Mass will begin at 11:00 am with a visitation one hour prior to the service. There will be a visitation the night prior on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at Gill Brothers Funeral Home in Bloomington, Minnesota from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm with a rosary service beginning at 6:30 pm.