Joseph M. Missel

Joseph Michael Missel, 61, of Madison, Mississippi, died Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at his home following a courageous battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Joe will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 23, 2024 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport. Burial will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Visitation will be Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in the gathering space at St. Paul the Apostle. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation.

Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. 

Joseph “Joe” Michael Missel was born on February 10, 1963 in Davenport, a son of Charles “Chuck” and Helen (Benda) Missel. He graduated from St. Paul’s Catholic School, Assumption High School and attended the University the Iowa before graduating from St. Ambrose University in 1987. Joe married his high school sweetheart, Maureen Anne Quigley on August 30, 1986 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. They have shared almost 38 years of marriage together, filled with love, laughter, and over 20 moves across the country. 

Joe served our country in the Air Force as a pilot and pilot instructor for 20 years and served as a pilot instructor for military contract company, Lear Siegler, Inc., for 15 years. Following his retirement as an Air Force Major, he was a Captain for Southwest Airlines for 18 years. 

The legacy left by Joe is one of faith in God, love for family, integrity, grit and hard work, humor, and a zest for life. He was an avid reader of theological and philosophical texts; a student of multiple languages, including Hebrew and German; a talented banjo, guitar, and harmonica player; a witty storyteller and joke maker; a skilled grill master; a remodeler of houses; and a classic car restorer; however, his favorite hobby was doing whatever his children were interested in at the time.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Maureen, Madison, Mississippi; his children: Alexis Missel Mau and her husband Jarrod Mau, and their expected son due in November, Logan, Utah, Nicholas Missel and his wife, Mihaela, and their children: Oakleigh Grace and Luke Joseph, Madison, Mississippi, and Benjamin Missel, Logan, Utah; his mother, Helen Missel, Davenport; his siblings: Charlie Missel, Charleston, South Carolina, Monica Missel Schultz and her husband, Corey, Biloxi, Mississippi, Dennis Missel and his wife, Josette, Queen Creek, Arizona, Dan Missel and his wife, Sandy, Spring Hill, Tennessee, and Erin Missel Brady, and her husband, Gavin, Ballwin, Missouri, and well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Joe was preceded in death by his father, Chuck.