Joe Salisbury

Jay (Joe) Salisbury, age 74 of Blue Earth, MN passed away Sunday, July 30th, 2023 with family by his side at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, September 9, 2023 in the Veterans Memorial Building at the Faribault County Fairgrounds from 2-5PM with prayer service at 3:15PM. Burial will be at a later date.

Joe was born April 8, 1949 in Mankato, MN to Jay and Marie (Reinhart) Salisbury. He grew up in the New Ulm and Gaylord areas and graduated from Gaylord High School in 1967. After high school, with his first wife Wanda he had three daughters Renaye, Rachel and Rebecca.  Later Joe went on to marry Cherie (Ratigan) on July 1st, 1978 in Wells, MN and together they were blessed with a son Collin and a daughter Dani.

Joe held several jobs over the years until he attended the Police Academy in 1978. He served as a police officer for the Wells Police Department from 1978 to 1980. Then he moved to Blue Earth and worked for the Blue Earth Police Department and Faribault County SherSheriff'siffs Office from 1980 until 2005 when he retired. After retiring, Joe drove gravel truck for several years with G&S Drainage and Excavation of Blue Earth.

On September 11, 2001 Joe and great friend Paul Budrow were in New York City training Federal Reserve Officers at the Federal Bank when the Twin Towers were attacked. They were proud to be there to help and were both Deputized as US Marshals to help protect the Federal Bank.

In his free time Joe loved to farm, which he did many years for OJ & Todd Olson. He also liked going to auctions and working in the garage making things with wood. He enjoyed all the wonderful times with family and friends.

 Joe is survived by his wife Cherie of Blue Earth, MN, children Renaye Crawford (John Odell) of Kiester, MN, Rachel Schirmer of Owatonna, MN, Rebecca Tabor (Shawn Voeltz) of Lanesboro, MN, Collin (Susan) Salisbury of Blue Earth, MN, and Dani Salisbury of Fairmont, MN, . His grandchildren Chantelle, Colby, Noriah, Vanessa (Adam), Nolynn, Alicia, Kiarah, Tessa, Jenna, Trever, Carson, Josh, Shailah, Jayden, Annika, Jasmine. Great grandson Leon, sisters Karen Chounanard, Mary Ann Thedens, brothers Fr. Keith and Lynn (Mary) Salisbury, sister-in-laws Jackie and Cathy Salisbury; JoAnn(Ken) Jackson, Mikette (Pat) Caspers, brother-in-law John (Brenda) Ratigan, his dogs Laika and Sophie and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents Jay and Marie Salisbury, brothers Curt, Mike and Timothy, brother-in-laws Ernie Chounanard and Carl Thedens, in-laws John and Dorothy Ratigan, and granddaughter Jackie Bergeron