ALBANY- Robert Joseph “Joe” Mulligan, 77, died peacefully after a short illness April 29, 2025 at his home in Albany, Ohio surrounded by his family. Born and raised in Athens, Ohio, Joe spent 34 years living in Germany and working for the Department of the Army and serving in the U.S. Army Reserve before retiring to his home town. Joe is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ann, and his two children Kate White (Brian) and Tom Mulligan (Cheryl). He was also the proud grandfather of Samantha and William White, and Lottie and Bennett Mulligan.
Born in Athens September 9, 1947, Joe graduated from Athens High School and Ohio University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Masters in Intramural Sports Administration. As much as his family, Joe loved sports and the Army. He played, coached and officiated sports both in Ohio and with the U.S. Army sports programs in Germany. He was a physical education teacher at Hamilton Junior High, Parkersburg W.Va., and Heidelberg, Germany with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools. He led military sports programs under V Corps in Frankfurt, Germany and ran in several marathons.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Reserve Officer, Armor Branch in 1969 through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps at Ohio University. He served 30 years in a combination of Active Army, Army Reserve and Ohio National Guard assignments retiring in 1999 with the rank of Colonel. With the approach of the Iraq war he was activated to lead a 3rd Armored Division support unit in Desert Storm through Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. The Reserve Command called him to active duty in 1996 to lead a unit in the Operation Joint Endeavor Balkans Peacekeeping in Hungary. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star medal.
As a civilian with the Army in Europe, he was sports director of the Frankfurt Military Community and later V Corps Sports Director. As operations officer closing the Frankfurt military installation after the fall of the Berlin Wall, his final job was Treaty Compliance Officer for the U.S. Army Europe Conventional Weapons treaties in Wiesbaden, Germany. Joe and his family traveled, hiked and skied throughout Europe, making six trips to the Mulligan homeland of Ireland.
He and Ann retired to an idyllic farm outside Athens, Ohio where Joe could indulge in another passion, fur trapping. He continued his connection to the military through the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He served as commander of Albany VFW post 9893 and led the honor guard at veterans’ funerals and contributed to the success of Boys State and Legion baseball.
Joe is survived by his three brothers Mike, Pat and John (Theresa) Mulligan and three sisters Diane Matters (Bill), Jane Ewing, and Leigh Belles and eight nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Bob and Alice Mulligan, a brother- in law Tim Ewing, and wife of his nephew, Susan Matters.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 9, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 38 N. College St., Athens with Fr. Mark Moore as Celebrant. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday. May 8th from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens. Military Rites will be conducted by American Legion Post 21 and VFW Post 9893 Honor Guard at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donate to your favorite veteran’s organization or Catholic charity. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.
