Joseph James Finnegan

Joseph J. Finnegan (Joe), a 23-year resident of Sun City Anthem, Henderson, NV died on October 10, 2025, in Henderson after a short illness. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Bear-Finnegan; his daughter Nance Finnegan; by three sons and daughters-in-law: Mark and Ellen Finnegan; Daniel and Ann-Marie Finnegan; James and Lara Finnegan; and his daughter-in-law Leigh Finnegan. He was preceded in death by his former wife Mary Finnegan and his son John Finnegan.

He was born in Illinois in 1933 to James F. Finnegan and Mary L. Finnegan. He attended several midwestern primary and secondary schools before graduating from Marmion Military Academy in 1951. For three years he served honorably in the US Army Security Agency specializing in electronic espionage. During his Army career he married Mary Margaret Millen, the mother of his five children. After leaving the Army he attended Babson College in Wellesley, MA and graduated with majors in Investments and Finance as class valedictorian with many academic and pre-professional awards.

Starting his professional career, he worked for the Rockefeller Family evaluating and arranging acquisitions and sales of businesses. He subsequently formed an investment banking business where he was an early pioneer in venture capital investing. After acquiring a publicly traded corporation with various business interests, he purchased and directed two slot machine companies during the expansion of gaming into Atlantic City and Nevada.

In 1986 and 1994 he formed two multi-million-dollar private investment funds whose primary investors were the pension funds of large financial institutions and manufacturing corporations. He managed the investments of these funds through 2002, when he and Virginia retired to Sun City Anthem in Henderson.

Joe believed he lived during the best era in the history of mankind; the best nation that ever existed and lived in many of its nicest places. He traveled extensively for both business and pleasure and visited many of the world’s most interesting venues. He did work of his own choosing and was his own boss nearly all his professional career. He enjoyed the relaxed lifestyle of Sun City Anthem, but, most of all, he cherished the people in his life, his two wonderful wives, his five kind and caring children, his grandchildren, countless extraordinary business colleagues, and many wonderful friends. He wished to thank them all for enriching his life. Services will be private.

TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Do not mourn for me. For I have had a wonderful life. I lived during the finest era in the history of humankind. In the best nation that ever existed. And in many of that nation’s nicest places.

I have traveled the world. Explored its wonders. And enjoyed many of its finest pleasures.

I did work of my choosing. Been my own boss nearly all of my life. Made my own mistakes and successes. And experienced the consequences of both.

But far more meaningful than all that are the people in my life.

For nearly thirty years I had a wonderful wife and partner. We raised five kind, caring children whom I love completely. I lived to know and enjoy many interesting grandchildren. And to my great surprise, later in my life I had a wonderful, long-lived romance with a woman who brought me great joy and happiness.

What more could a man want of his life?

So, do not mourn for me. Rather, in the Irish way, Tell a story of my follies. Have a chuckle. And if you remember me at all, I hope you do so when we both were laughing.