Joseph Edward McGurk

The world lost a sterling example of lifelong, selfless service when Joseph Edward McGurk drew his last breath at 3:48 on the morning of January 21, 2025, at Global Hospice in El Paso, Texas. He had lived for 94 years, one month, and one week.

Joe began his life on November 13, 1930, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Laura Adele Puff and Edward Joseph Niehaus. The genesis of Joe’s surname “McGurk” is best left to speculation.

In his own words, as shared with his son-in-law via email in January 2021:

“I was born in a row house in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia. This was still the Depression, which began in late 1929. My mother was living in her father's house after her mother had died when she was run over by a runaway two-horse wagon delivering ice. Mom worked at the John B. Stetson hat factory, with her father acting as the babysitter. I must have been a handful to take care of, as my next vivid memory was of living in a very small row house on a very small street. I was old enough to go to elementary school but I don't remember what grade it was or even how long we stayed in that house. The next house that my mother and I lived in had an additional resident. All of a sudden, I had picked up a father, as I was told. Also, through the years, I gained two additional much older sisters, played hooky from school, became a juvenile delinquent, and started on a period of several years in a “private school” (a nice way of describing a reformatory); when it closed, I was sent to live on a farm with a couple who had me attend school and learn to plow their acreage. I learned to milk goats and drink goat's milk, and to collect eggs from the chickens. I lived with that couple for close to a year, I believe.

“The next family I was taken to live with had children of their own. They were older than I, two boys and a girl. That house was much closer to the city and I did have some money of my own, which I used to figure out the transportation system. Once I knew how the system worked, I could get to the house where my mother, two younger sisters, and stepfather lived. The family I was sent to live with did not appreciate my independence! But by this time, I guess my sentence had been served and they allowed me to go back to my family and rejoin the Philadelphia school system. I attended a school that I had to walk to for quite a distance which lasted for seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. I then went to a vocational school for two months until I turned 16 and was allowed to quit school and go to work. The first job I had was attaching the hinges to toilet seats.”

And thus began Joe McGurk’s adventurous life beyond Philadelphia. At seventeen, falsifying his age, he managed to enlist in the US Army. He was sent to Germany, where his youthful appearance caused him to be called “kinder” by the locals. Following this first two-year stint as a soldier, Joe returned to the States and went on inactive duty. During this time, his favorite job back in Philadelphia was delivering new Cadillacs to customers of the local dealership.

Joe reenlisted in the Army in 1956. His military experience and education included Aircraft Maintenance; Single-Rotor Helicopter Mechanic; Single-Rotor Utilities Helicopter School; Vietnamese Language School; and Japanese Language School. All told, his military career comprised 22 years of active service plus five years of inactive service. He reached the rank of

Sergeant First Class E-7, with primary specialty titles of Interrogator/Interpreter, Helicopter/Aircraft Mechanic and Repairman, and Helicopter Crew Chief.

Fluent in Japanese and Vietnamese, Sergeant McGurk served in Vietnam twice. He survived two helicopter forced landings and liked to say he had been “shot up and shot down.” In one instance, he remained unaware of having been shot until a crew mate noticed he was bleeding. The aircraft landed before Joe had his injury repaired, earning him the Purple Heart.

Sergeant McGurk’s service to our country earned him many other accolades, including the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Medal with Device (6th Award), Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (6 campaigns), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Senior Aircraft Crewmember’s Wings, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Army of Occupation Medal.

While on duty in Korea, Joe met the beautiful Miss Suk Ja Kang at the local NCO Club. They both enjoyed dancing and developed a friendship. Joe pressed Sue for a date, and in her words, “He wore me down.” They were married in Seoul, Korea—Sue’s homeland—on August 17, 1959.

Joe brought Sue to the United States later in 1959 and they began their family with the first of three sons, Michael, in 1961. During Sergeant McGurk’s active military service, the family lived in Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Meade, Maryland; Frankfurt, Germany; Fort Ord, California; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Camp Zama, Grant Heights, Sagamihara, and Momote Village, Japan; and Fort Bliss, Texas—where they first lived in the late 1960s. In 1971, Sergeant McGurk took on his favorite assignment: five years in Japan, including his dependents, Sue and their sons.

Sergeant McGurk was honorably discharged on December 31, 1976, and the family returned to El Paso, which they have called “home” ever since.

Although Joe retired from his military career, his energy, drive, skills, and interests would not allow him to be sedentary. He commenced a post-military resume that included employment as Crash, Fire, and Rescue Fireman at El Paso International Airport; Police Mechanic for the City of El Paso; Office Manager at Sun Country Aviation; Driver and Teller at State National Bank of El Paso; Smelter at Asarco Smelting Operations; Coach Mechanic at Sun City Area Transit; Office Manager at Dean B. and Associates; Cessna Sales and Service Representative at International Airmotive, Inc.; Public Relations Representative at North American Land Company, Timberon, New Mexico; Dock Foreman, Whitfield Transportation and East Texas Motor Freight; retail merchandise vendor for The Home Depot, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and Foxworth-Galbraith Building Supply, Las Cruces and El Paso; and driver for Mannheim Automobile Auction, a job he loved.

Joe’s energy transcended his paid work. An avid volunteer and generous philanthropist, he was a Lifetime Member of the Experimental Aircraft Association; Secretary of Moriahyama Masonic Lodge, Tokyo, Japan; Secretary of two Masonic Lodges in Frankfurt, Germany; Recorder, Treasurer, and Clown Unit President at El Maida Shrine, El Paso; Master Mason, Grand Lodge of Texas, 50 years; Scottish Rite Mason, 32nd Degree, Valley of El Paso, Orient of Texas, 50 years; and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and Rotary Club of Northeast El Paso.

For many years, he generously supported the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, among many others.

In his leisure time, Joe enjoyed driving, riding motorcycles, flying, history, reading, classic movies, travel, and people. For many years, he spent his Friday evenings with other veterans and retirees for happy hour and dinner at Cattle Baron. He dined there so frequently that all of his sons can recite his order. He also enjoyed many hamburger-steak dinners at Kiki’s, where he praised their “frosted glass that holds the entire bottle of beer.” Joe loved a cold glass of milk, waffles cooked to a precise shade of brown (for which he carried a paint chip!), a daily ice-cream cone, and the occasional Tom Collins “with at least three cherries.” But more than anything else, Joe loved his wife and his sons, and expressed that love and pride to everyone he met.

Joe McGurk was predeceased by his mother and stepfather Laura and Edward Niehaus; by five sisters: Clara Adell Niehaus, Regina Niehaus Lansing, Geraldine Niehaus, Edna Niehaus, and Joan Niehaus Randik; by two brothers-in-law, Lansing A. Allen and Edward C. Randik; and by his grandson Christopher McGurk.

He is survived by his three adoring, devoted sons: Michael and Mark of El Paso and David of Houston; by his daughter-in-law, Jackie McGurk of El Paso; by his son-in-law, Van English of Houston; by his granddaughter and grandson-in-law Courtney and Jin Park of Phoenix; and by his great-grandson Caden Park of Phoenix, along with several nieces and nephews.

The visitation, viewing, and memorial for Joe will be held in the chapel at Funeraria Del Angel Restlawn, 8817 Dyer Street, El Paso, Texas 79904, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM on Thursday, January 30, 2025, with Masonic Service at 7:00 PM. The burial with full military honors will be held at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, Eastside Shelter, 5200 Fred Wilson Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79906, at 9:30 AM on Friday, January 31, 2025.

The McGurk family wishes to thank the staffs of William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Good Samaritan Skilled Nursing Care, and Global Hospice Care for their professionalism, skill, and kindness.

If you would like to make a financial contribution in memory of Joseph Edward McGurk, please consider your choice of: El Maida Shrine, 6631 Alabama Street, El Paso, Texas 79904; Wallace Hughston Masonic Lodge # 1393, 5502 Hondo Pass Drive, El Paso, Texas 79924; El Paso Scottish Rite Temple, 301 West Missouri Avenue #1131, El Paso, Texas 79901.