Joseph Hynes

Madison, WI -- Joseph Michael Hynes, age 58, died on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg following a ten-year battle with a rare form of colon cancer. He will be deeply missed by his son Colin Hynes and daughter Emma Hynes, both of Madison; ex-wife Beth Black, of Highland Park, Illinois; brother Henry Hynes, of New Providence, New Jersey; and sister Patricia Wasek, of Ramsey, New Jersey. He also leaves behind a large extended family and many friends in Madison and around the country. Joe was preceded in death by his father Henry Hynes, mother Sarah (O'Rourke) Hynes, and sister Anna Steinbrick, as well as grandparents John Hynes, Selena Jane (Quinn) Hynes, Patrick O'Rourke, and Isabella (Duffy) O'Rourke.

A Madison resident for thirty seven years, Joe was born on January 7, 1954 and raised in Rutherford, New Jersey. He graduated with a B.A. in English from Fairleigh Dickinson University and later completed an A.A. in Electronics Engineering Technology at Herzing University. Joe began his career writing for newspapers and doing technical writing for Ohmeda. He later worked for Knupp & Watson & Wallman. Joe spent the longest portion of his career working in telecommunications at SBCGlobal and, later, AT&T.

Joe was especially proud of his children and enjoyed sharing stories of his adventures as well as his love of history, jazz, photography, fishing, good books, and good food with them and a wide circle of friends. He will be remembered for his courage, joie de vivre, and sense of humor.

A memorial service for family and close friends was held on Saturday, December 15, 2012. A celebration of Joe's life is being planned for February. At his request, ashes will be scattered off the coast of Plum Island, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Memorial contributions may be made to Agrace HospiceCare.