Family Log-In

Click Here

Joseph Sullivan, age 71, of Manistee, MI, formerly of Saginaw, MI, died Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at home surrounded by his family after a brief battle with cancer. Papa was ushered into Heaven by his grandson, Brandon playing his baritone at the Band concert with his sister, Kaitlin there to support his commitment to play while granddaughter, Lyndsey held vigil by Papas side until they arrived. Commitment was an important virtue in Joes life and he instilled it in the 3 of them.
Joe was born January 11, 1947 in Saginaw, son of the late John M. Sullivan and Kathleen (Corcoran) Sullivan. Joe married the love of his life Marilyn Slaybaugh on May 23, 1975 in Saginaw, MI.
Joe had many accomplishments in his lifetime. He attended St. Andrews Catholic School in Saginaw. He was a star fullback and punter for the St. Andrews Bulldogs. In 1966 he joined the US Army where he served 2 tours of duty in Vietnam building airstrips for the Green Berets, traveling ahead with Gen. Westmoreland. After his discharge in 1969, he returned to Saginaw and started Sullivan Excavating Co. in 1972. Joe also co-owned The Establishment in Midland, MI. Most of his adult life he was a construction superintendent overseeing multimillion dollar road construction projects, schools and residential developments in Naples, Florida and throughout Northern Michigan.
After his retirement in 2010, he spent countless hours in his yard tending to his pond, beautiful flower beds and tormenting anyone within 50 ft. of his gardening hose (even a city police officer traveling past our home) smiling all the while. He loved his Man Cave. Joe cherished his family camping trips, especially The Sullivan Family Reunion which he and his wife started in 1991 in Lake Ann, MI, gambling with his grandchildren, and watching the sunset with his wife. He loved enjoying nature, snowshoeing before beginning to winter in Florida in 2014. He loved and lived life to the fullest. He was a one of a kind guy and will be greatly missed by all who came in contact with him during his lifetime.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, sister Joanne, brother Bob, brothers-in-law Richard Gaumer & Gilbert Beach and sister-in-law Marianne.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife Marilyn, son Jason (Marci), daughters; Shannon of Manistee and Jennifer (Rod), siblings; Jack (Teddy), Mary Kay (Bob), Rose Mary, Colleen (J.D.) and Tom (Cathy), grandchildren; Lyndsey, Brandon, Kaitlin, Josh (Tiffany), Zachary (Nicole) and Michell (Justin) & great-grandchildren, Isabella and Annabella.
Services will be held Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 10:00 AM at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Freeland, MI.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joe’s name can be made to the D.A.V of Manistee, Hospice of Michigan or Homeward Bound of Manistee.
The Oak Grove Funeral Home & cremation Center in Manistee has been entrusted with arrangements. To share a photo or memory with the family, please visit Joe’s personal page at www.oakgrovefh.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph Patrick "Joe" Sullivan, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.