Obituary of Joseph Anthony Lynch

Joseph Anthony Lynch (age 68) passed peacefully through the veil on Friday, November 26, 2021, at Gilbert Mercy Hospital in Gilbert, Maricopa Co., Arizona. He was born on September 22, 1953, at Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, to Gerard J. Lynch and Louise V. (Mitchell) Lynch. He was the 4th of four children in his family, all sons. Joe graduated from Tonawanda High School in 1972, following which he attended Boston University on a full-ride football scholarship after being recruited by 20 colleges across the nation. During this time period, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He subsequently served a full-time mission, from January 1978 – January 1980, in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission. He also served as a Temple Ordinance Worker at the Gilbert Arizona Temple from March 2014 – December 2015. After completing his mission in Nevada, Joseph attended Brigham Young University, both the Hawaii and Provo campuses, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management on June 23, 1984. He also attended Northern Arizona University where he completed a master’s degree in Vocational Education. On November 17, 1984, in the Washington D.C. Temple, in the state of Maryland, Joseph married Shauna Lee Allan. There were seven children born to this union, all in Arizona. On November 10, 2005, he married Gayle Adrianne Winans at the home of David & Linda Hansen in Phoenix, Arizona. Joe’s early work history included working as a bouncer, a delivery man, and as a courier to U.S. Congressional members. After college, he served as a Construction Manager for large commercial building projects, he taught Seminary full-time for the Church Education System, worked as an inspector for public building projects, and taught Industrial Arts for public school students. Most recently, he ran a handyman business with his son and son-in-law. Joe’s interests and hobbies include religious studies, preparedness, building construction, camping, buying & selling yard sale items and vehicles of all kinds—trailers, cars, boats, trucks, and motorized cycles. He loved to drive anywhere and everywhere, to visit people, places, and historic sights, and he especially loved teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone, and in any situation. His greatest joy was spending time with his children, for whom he felt great pride and enduring love. Joseph is preceded in death by his mother, father, and brother, Gerard “Gerry” Lynch, Jr., and step-father, George Arnold. He is survived by his wife, Gayle; his children, Jennifer (Brian) Smithson, Karissa (Jimmy) Cozza, Jessica (Leon) Bradford, David (Autumn) Lynch, Chelsea (Josh) Dawson, Crystal (Jason) Shepherd, and McKenzie (Ben) Miller; grandchildren, Arlie, Boston, and Benson Smithson, Vincent, Hugh, and Tannon Cozza, Mara Bradford, and Wade Dawson (due in 2022); brothers, James “Jim” Lynch and Francis “Frank” Blasio ; several cousins, nieces and nephews. He is also survived by stepchildren, Carter (Christian) Perras, Courtney (Jody) Drewry, Colby (Don) Fletcher, Tyler (Lisa) Gorton, Trevor (Shayna) Gorton, and Casey (Dale) Mills.