Joy Gabriel Badwound Jr.

Joy Gabriel Badwound, Jr. was born to Joy and Doris Badwound on April 22, 1960 in Kimball, Nebraska. He died on December 16, 2024 in Rapid City, SD, of complications following surgery.

He grew up in Gillette, Wyoming, where he attended school, graduating from Campbell County High School in 1978. He was quite active during his school years, playing football and serving as class officer during junior high, while he sang in choir and played first clarinet in band. Joy was a member of the high school speech and debate team and performed in several school plays. 

After high school, Joy continued his studies at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, where he was a member of the Tau Sigma Zeta fraternity. He obtained his degree in 1982 and returned to Wyoming before relocating to Colorado, where he lived and worked for several years before moving to New York City. In the late nineties, he returned to Gillette, where he began working for the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce. Until his final return to Gillette in 2018, Joy lived in Laramie where he worked for the school district; then Cheyenne from 2005 where he worked for the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Joy began Door Dashing in 2020 and said it was the best job he ever had. Often, he would take his nephew Chayton along to “help” with the deliveries. He enjoyed watching Dancing With The Stars and The Rachel Maddow Show. He was also a big Denver Broncos fan. Joy had many exceptional skills, but his ability to make people laugh was his most loved trait. And there are many, many memories of laughter.

He was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, his parents, brothers Joy, Tony, and Eric; and nephew, Christopher. He is survived by his sisters, Patricia of Denver, Colorado, and Melody of Thornton, Colorado; brothers Bruce (wife Deb), Reynold, and Charles, all of Gillette. There are also numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who share in this loss.

The family request memorials be made to assist with memorial services. Please click following link to make your donation to Joy's final wishes.  https://plan.passare.com/planner/external/payments/61a4f517-8960-4f36-91d7-144bf59c0c3a