Joe Grim and his twin sister BreAnna were born on January 4th 1981 in St Louis, Missouri to Diane and Joseph Darnell. He came into the world a tiny little thing, weighing just over 4 pounds, but his body grew to match his personality; a gentle giant. He was an imposing looking man standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall with a heart of gold.
Joeʼs loves in life included his family, St Louis, food, friends, horror movies and Halloween. It was his preoccupation with horror movies that brought him to Tom Saviniʼs school for Special Effects in Monessen, Pennsylvania. It was there in the ash ridden sky and make-up that he met his soul mate, Alli. Joe loved special effects but missed his family and home; after completing effects school and earning his Associates in Specialized business he moved back to St Louis.
He dabbled in many jobs until he found his passion for tattooing. It was through tattooing that Joe could create masterpieces combining his love of art and the macabre. He left his mark on a lot of people; not only because of how talented he was, but because of what an amazing person he was. He always made people feel comfortable and at ease while he tattooed them. They considered him a friend and enjoyed having their own stories and inside jokes with him. His clients proudly wear his work on their skin.
Always a supportive husband and friend; Joe moved to New York state with his wife in the fall of 2007 to spend time with his ailing mother in law. Two of his proudest moments were to follow with the births of his sons.
Joe was a devoted, kind and fun dad who believed that manners mattered. He guided his sons with lessons from his own experiences and unwavering love. He loved his boys fiercely and made sure to always put them first. He was always looking for new and fun things to do with them, be it ice skating, rollerblading or board games. He would brag about their accomplishments and was proud of the people they were growing up to be. The time that he spent with his family and friends was a gift to all who knew him.
It’s impossible to explain who Joe was in just a few words. He was a warm kindhearted soul, an amazing artist and a wonderful father. He was always quick with a hug or a back rub and could make even the hardest egg soften. He was the type of person who was always smiling and laughing, which could brighten even the darkest of days. He was a supportive friend who would do whatever he could to help those around him, yet he never wanted to inconvenience anyone by expecting the same in return. He wanted the people around him to be happy and to laugh, even if he had to do silly antics to get a smile out of them. He would talk to everyone. Whether you knew him for 5 years or 5 minutes he would treat you in the same way, like a friend he could talk to. He could always find some common ground to relate to people which is a rare quality to have.
He was our Tall man. Pumpkin king. Dodo. Joey. Daddy. And on July 30, 2020 the world lost its luster since he left it.
Joe is survived by his Mother Diane Missey (Bob), Father Joseph Darnell (Cindy), Sisters; Gina Coffey (Tony), Mandy Bruce (Shawn), BreAnna Nenninger (Justin), Stepbrother Bobby Missey (Kathleen), Stepsister Kristen Shelton (Brad), 14 nieces and nephews, his wife Alli and sons; Salem and Torin.