Patrick Desmond Quinn

Patrick Desmond Quinn passed away on April 1, 2024, in his home in Cypress TX. He was born October 15, 1932, in Mt Clemens MI to Irish immigrant Hugh Quinn, and Ohio born Marie Beaufait. Pat was the first of three boys (Jack and Jerry) and one girl (Sharon). He grew up in Mt Clemens, learned to play golf at the nearby golf Club and was so skilled that he almost turned pro except for marrying. He attended Catholic school and graduated from St Mary’s High School. It was due to a school function that he met his love Shirley Rose Quinn from the neighboring Mt Clemens High School. He had grown up helping his father move houses and this skillset proved useful when he went into the Army during the Korean war. When volunteers were sought with some construction experience, he was able to raise his hand. As a result, he was recruited into the demolition of bridges and roads, and later rebuilding them, to move troops. Thus, began his civil engineering skillset. Later when Pat returned to the States he continued in construction until he retired some 45 years later. In 1954 he married Shirley and set out to have a family. Patrick had 4 children, Patrick Jr, Daniel, Deborah, and Candace over the years.

Pat had a hard-working DYI mindset, and Shirley had a natural gift of design, and so they built their first house together out on Moravian Dr in Macomb Township. As their family enlarged, and they saved money, they decided to build a larger home. Pat was doing well in construction, and they really wanted to end up living on the water. Eventually they were able to purchase a lot in Venice Shores subdivision on Lake St Clair. They were hands on in the home building process and even poured the basement themselves. They both enjoyed expressing their talents turning their home into a show place. Being on the lake afforded them the pleasure to enjoy boating and fishing. Pat particularly loved this pastime for summertime fun and so they owned several different boats over the years. Pat enjoyed competitive trophy fishing and was a member of the Michigan-Ontario Muskie Club, and as a result, his family enjoyed many tasty fish dinners. In the winters he enjoyed creating ice skating rinks for hockey and playing with all the neighboring kids. Snowmobiling and hunting were other enjoyments spent with his in-laws and children in a cottage up near Traverse City MI.

Unfortunately, the construction business took a down fall and Pat found himself forced to seek work outside of Michigan. Pat worked first in Florida and later Texas. Eventually Shirley headed to Texas to reunite with Pat once their last child graduated High school. The good fortune that helped Pat to leave also prevented him from ever returning. Fortunately, three of Pat’s children had landed in Houston. Pat settled in Atascocita TX out near Lake Houston, easily found work, and went back to golfing for pastime. Eventually when Pat retired, they moved to Cypress to be closer to both daughters’ families, bought an RV and travelled the highways.

Until the very end, Pat had a work ethic to rival today’s best resource. He would tackle any Physical Therapy in the same manner he lived his life. He remained positive and happy providing those around him with laughs until he passed. Patrick is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jack Quinn. He is survived by his son Patrick Jr of Cypress TX, son Daniel and wife Darcie Quinn of Macomb MI, daughter Debra and husband Larry Magid of Cypress TX, and daughter Candace and husband Eduardo Callegari of Cypress TX. Patrick had grandchildren Alex Quinn, Rebecca Lane, Andrea Quinn, Patrick and Anthony Antonucci, and Edward Callegari, and 13 nieces and nephews.