Joe Zorc

Joe Zorc, 92, of Eagle Butte, passed away Sunday, December 25, 2016 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. MST, Monday, January 2, 2017 at All Saints Catholic Church, Eagle Butte. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the church.

Joe Zorc was born on December 17, 1924, to Joe and Rosie (O’Korn) Zorc, on the Zorc homestead, south of Eagle Butte, South Dakota. He was the youngest of eight children and with his passing, came the end of a hard-working generation. Joe made his final journey Christmas morning, 2016, surrounded by his loving family, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Joe attended the Olsen Country School, where he completed his education through the eighth grade. After school, Joe remained on the ranch homestead with his parents, who later moved to Eagle Butte. When Joe’s brother Bill returned from World War II in 1945, he joined Joe in a successful ranching operation, known as the “Zorc Bros.” Ranch. Working and knowing the land was something Joe took great pride in, while humbly raising top quality Hereford and Angus cattle. Joe found fortune in being able to continue to live the life he loved for his 92 years.       

In the spring of 1955, Joe met the love of his life, Nina Heffernan. Joe and Nina were married on May 17, 1957 in Pierre, SD. According to Joe, that was the day Nina came to “work” for the ranch. They started their family with daughter, Kathy, son, Joe, and daughters, Vicky and Kristy. Later in life, Joe received great pleasure from his grandchildren Ray, Shannon, Preston, Kaylee, Melissa, Clayton, Keri, Brett, and Brock. The addition of great grandchildren furthered this pleasure for Grandpa Joe. The sharing of a wink, a smile, a high five, a fist pound, a tick tock, or a handshake, was always welcome during greetings and goodbyes with Grandpa Joe. Although drives on the four-wheeler historically related to ranch work, Grandpa Joe always made time for a ride with a grandkid.

Joe was a dedicated husband and father and the best of ranch partners with Bill. A strong work ethic, instilled in Joe at an early age, was ever present and oftentimes extended to helping neighbors. One could always count on Joe to work cattle, help in time of need, or just lend a hand. Joe always enjoyed a cold beer (or two), a good game of cards, and visiting with family and friends. There are many stories Joe enjoyed sharing about the old days and fun times he had with his many good partners. With Joe’s passing, goes a wealth of knowledge and a firsthand account of the homestead days in the gumbo of Ziebach County.      

During his time as a Commissioner for Ziebach County, Joe was a strong and experienced voice for the people he represented.

Joe always enjoyed watching a good old western movie, or a Minnesota Twins game. He could tell you most anything about each movie, or player on the Twins roster, and just how good or bad the season, game, or movie was.

Those honored to have shared Joe’s life, include his wife, Nina, children, Kathy (Larry) Anderson, Joe D. (Kathy) Zorc, Vicky (Mark) Reinhard, and Kristy (Festus) Fischer, nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, mother-in-law, Hazel Heffernan and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Rosie Zorc, sisters, Josephine Elsey, Rosie Maher, Mary Maher, Cecil Norman, Sophie Holden, and Jenny Schatz, brother, William “Bill” Zorc, and father-in-law, Eddie Heffernan.

Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte have been entrusted with Joe’s arrangements.