Joseph Mullin

Joseph Patrick Mullin, 80, of Pleasant Hill, IA, died peacefully at home on his favorite day of the year, Thanksgiving, November 25, 2021, with his wife and children by his side. Traditionally, this was a day where family, friends, and those without a place to go, gathered for food and stories. Joseph was born December 12, 1940, in Des Moines, IA, and was one of nine children of Katherine Mary and Joseph Eugene Mullin. He attended Dowling Catholic High School for three years, and after the family moved to Sioux City, graduated from Bishop Heelan High School in 1959. He played basketball, football and ran track while also flirting with theater. Joe’s sense of humor was dry and always available; his deep laugh was a sound cherished by all. He graduated from the University of South Dakota, earning degrees in History and Political Science. There, he performed in the USD Strollers, a dance and comedy troupe and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Joe served in the Army Reserves, and worked for more than forty-five years in medical sales positions. He later started his own company, JPM Sales and Services. A proud Democrat, Joe loved to debate political issues, and his strong sense of social justice led him to embrace the underdog. Dabbling as a music producer, his production company, Moon Mystic, helped produce two albums for Des Moines-based bands. Joe was intellectually curious about nearly any topic; he was a news junkie who read multiple newspapers, The New Yorker magazine and troves of historical literature. He was also a devoted fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa Hawkeyes. He loved to travel and cherished memories of the family’s tours of Ireland, where he kissed the Blarney Stone and met no stranger. New Orleans was his favorite city; he delighted in spending New Year’s there in 2019. And he also enjoyed spending time at the family cabin in Spirit Lake, IA. One of the things he appreciated and loved discussing was film, enjoying most, movies with strong female leads, such as, “Clueless,” and “Steel Magnolias.” Joseph married the love and strongest female lead of his life, Rosemary McGill, on December 28, 1968, during a whopper of a blizzard in Beresford, SD. The two would have celebrated 53 years together this year. They were blessed with four children, who were the greatest joy of his life. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; children, Jennifer Mullin, Ryan (Goizane) Mullin, Patrick Mullin, all of Des Moines, IA; and Kathleen “Katie” (Tim Duerkop) Mullin of Chicago, IL, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his brothers, William (Patricia McGill) Mullin, of Beresford, SD and Tom (Janet) Mullin of Minneapolis, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Mullin, Kay Mullin, Theresa Brittain, Margaret Babl, and Helen Mullin; and infant brother John Michael Mullin. Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of Joe’s life on Saturday, December 18th, from 4:30 - 6:30 at Moberg Gallery, 2411 Grand Ave. in Des Moines. A burial of cremated remains and funeral mass will be held this spring in Spirit Lake, IA. Memorial donations can be made to The Southern Poverty Law Center at www.splcenter.org or the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa: https://cwjiowa.salsalabs.org/JosephPMullinDonation. Condolences may be left at www.caldwellparrish.com