Joseph E. Gaffaney, age 33 of rural Glenwood, died Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at home.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 25 ^th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood.  Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.  Interment will be in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Villard.  Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood.

Joseph Edward Gaffaney, the son of Charles and Kathie (Branch) Gaffaney was born on March 24, 1982, in Starbuck, Minnesota. He grew up and lived on a Century Farm in Leven Township, Glenwood, Minnesota. He attended school at Villard Elementary and Minnewaska Area High School, graduating with the class of 2000. Joe attended North Dakota School of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and graduated with a degree in Farm Management/Ag Mechanics in 2002. He also attended Alexandria Technical College for Fluid Power and graduated with a degree in 2004.

Joe was a crop and cattle farmer. He was also employed at Reichmann Land and Cattle by Villard while in high school and from 2013 to present. He also worked at Massman Automation Designs in Villard from 2003 to 2013. Joe was an active member of the FFA while in high school, and a current member of Glacial Ridge Cattlemen's Association and the MN State Cattlemen's Association.

Joe enjoyed farming the crops and caring for his cattle. He would research farming practices on the computer and make parts for his machinery on his CNC machine. He looked forward to going crop scouting on the Kubota with his dad and loved spending time with friends, family and especially his nephew, Clay.

Joe is survived by his parents, Charles and Kathie Gaffaney of Glenwood; brother, Andrew Gaffaney and special friend, Caitlin Henke, of Villard; sister, Kristina (Adam) Haroldson of Clarkfield; and special, precious nephew, Clay.

Joe was preceded in death, and welcomed to heaven by, his maternal grandparents, Arlin and Nellie Branch; paternal grandparents, Dan and Agnes Gaffaney; and aunts, Ramona and Donna Gaffaney.