Joseph Kirk Nguyen, 44, of Lusby, MD died on 31 March 2012, at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Born on 6 June 1967, "Joe" was the youngest son of the late Chuc Nguyen and Hoa Truong.

He moved to St. Mary's County in 1978 from Battle Creek, Michigan. He graduated from Leonardtown High School in 1986. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1988 and was stationed at New London Naval Submarine Support Facility in Groton, Connecticut.

He met and married Pamela Higgins in December 1990, while they both were stationed in Groton, Connecticut. He served as Security Specialist at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division at Patuxent River, MD since 1998.

An avid soccer enthusiast, Joe enjoyed playing soccer since Middle School and throughout his adult life. His life's priorities were: God, Country, Family and Soccer. The sportsmanship and the rules of the games were his passion. He served as referee for the Calvert Soccer Association and the St. Mary's Youth Soccer since 2005.

He was a loving husband, and a devoted father to his two daughters. In addition to his wife Pamela, he is survived by his son Joseph Edward Kirk Nguyen and his daughters Sydney Renea and McKenzie "Cierra"; his sisters Julie Kirk and Mai Cook (Raymond); his brothers Hung Nguyen (Hoa) of Atlanta, GA, and Tuong Nguyen (Do) of Atlanta, GA; his nieces Andrea Kirk, Hannah Cook, Tuong Vi Nguyen and Trang Nguyen; and his nephews Khoa Nguyen, Corey Cook and Andrew Nguyen.

The family will receive friends and celebrate Joe's life on Monday, 9 April 2012, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home in Leonardtown, MD. A Funeral Service will be held in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 prior to going to the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD with Military Honors.

Arrangements provided by Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home.