Edward "Joseph" Quintana

Edward "Joseph" Quintana aka "Spider" born December 11, 1950 in Leadville, Colorado, called to heaven December 18, 2021.

"Hard work is not a man's punishment. It is his reward, his strength and his pleasure."

This quote couldn't be truer for Joseph Quintana. He loved to work and was the epitome of a hard-working man with calloused hands and extraordinary inner strength.

He grew up on the family ranch, in Llano de San Juan Nepomuceno, NM. Llano, NM is the place that built him into the man he was. Llano was his heart and soul. From maintaining the green pastures, to building barns, irrigating the land, milking cows and taming horses. Joseph did it all.

As an adult he moved to Grants, NM, which was a booming mining town in the mid 70's. He worked underground as a miner and met the love of his life, Christine, and they were married in 1976. From that point forward, he was a devoted husband to Christine for over 45 years. And he was a dedicated father to his two daughters Edwina and Lillian, teaching them courage and independence, always eager to pass on his knowledge to both of them.

Joseph was also a devoted worker. He worked underground in the mines for over 20 years where he was known as "Spider". His profession took him and his family to new places that they would have never seen otherwise. He worked at Kerr-McGee & Chevron in Grants, New Mexico, Stillwater Mining Co in Absarokee, Montana and American Girl Mine in Winterhaven, California.

From the cold country to the scorching desert Joseph and his family relocated from Absarokee, Montana to Yuma, Arizona for his occupation. When he wasn’t working, he always used his vacation time to take his family on trips such as Yellowstone, Disneyland, and Las Vegas, Nevada. He also thoroughly enjoyed taking his family fishing and he loved reeling in striped bass and catfish under the hot Arizona sun.

Joseph's mining days came to an end in 1996 when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. At this time Joseph and his family moved back to Grants, NM since he was battling cancer and he received a bone marrow transplant in 1997.

Throughout the course of his life, Joseph fought 4 different types of cancers. He was always a resilient, determined and driven person. Nothing wavered him. He was never a cancer statistic; he was Joseph Quintana.

He always kept a positive attitude and had an amazing zest for life. Instead of feeling sorry for himself and asking why me, he continued to push forward. He approached life with a "Challenge Accepted" mentality.

Throughout the remaining course of his life, Joseph kept his mind and his hands always occupied, even undergoing cancer treatments.

It was rare to seeJoseph without a drill, hammer, or some sort of tool in his hand, whether he was fixing a leak or just tightening a screw, there was no job too little or too big to help his family.

He loved working on projects both big and small. His biggest project to date was when he single-handedly, fully remodeled his daughter's home in Albuquerque, NM, all while battling cancer. He turned a 1970 outdated home into an updated masterpiece. In this home Joseph's family shared many laughs, many family dinners, and many memories that they will always hold near & dear to their hearts.

Those who knew him well referred to Joseph as Superman or the Bionic Man. He could do everything and had the strength of an Ox.

He was a mechanic, handyman, plumber, electrician, water heater installer, a "dad the washing machine is broken can you fix it?”, all around guy. Whatever his daughters needed he was there. He could throw a bag of cement over his shoulder and make it look like it weighed two pounds.

Joseph believed that anything was possible if you set your mind to it. And he proved this time and time again. If there was something he didn't know how to do he would learn by asking questions, calling someone, reading, or watching YouTube videos. Or as he would say, “Ask U2." He was even on a first name basis with employees at Lowe's. A trip to Lowe’s became a regular outing and one of his favorite places to shop.

He was a perfectionist and an architect at heart. He would create hand-drawn designs to architecturally map-out all his projects before start-up. His measuring tape was one of his most vital tools.

When his daughters would say "dad, I didn't know you could do that,” his response often was "anything can be done. "

Joseph was a loving brother, uncle, and son. He was the foundation and the structural support for his two daughters and wife.

He is survived by wife, Christine Rita (Pohl) Quintana and two daughters Edwina Quintana and Lillian Quintana. Sisters: Frances Sandoval, Sharon Pacheco, and Ivy Romero. Brother: Fred Quintana

He is proceeded in death by Father Alfares Quintana, Mother Juanita Quintana, Sister Lorraine Pacheco, Brother Jimmy Quintana.

He gave everything he had to those he loved and had so much more to give. He will be missed for eternity.

Services for Joseph will be done through Compassion Mortuary in Grants, NM. Please check the Compassion Mortuary website for details, memorial service to be announced.