Joseph Irle

Joseph C. Irle, 92, of Champaign died at 3:20 am on Friday (Aug 18, 2017) at home, surrounded by family.

The visitation will be on Sunday, Aug 20 from 5-7 pm at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St, Champaign. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Monday, Aug. 21 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 100 S. Church St., Thomasboro. The Rev. Fr. Joel Phelps and Rev. Fr. Ted Pracz will officiate. Burial will be at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Thomasboro. 

Mr. Irle was born Feb. 11, 1925 in Thomasboro, a son of Joseph and Lillian Maier Irle. He married Mary Eileen Warner on Feb. 9, 1948 in Thomasboro. She survives. 

Survivors also include 7 children, Linda (Bill) Weathers of Grand Detour; Mary (Dennis) Cottier of Normal; Joseph L (Linda) Irle of Thomasboro; Julia (Ron) Ness of Hinckley; John (Patricia) Irle of Mahomet; Monica (Scott) Torrance of Macomb and Angela (Chuck) Raup of Thomasboro; 19 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren and 1 sister, Deanna Alexander of Champaign. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother (James) and a daughter (Melissa). 

Mr. Irle graduated from Rantoul Township High School in 1942. He farmed in the Thomasboro area for over 60 years and was a Northrup King/Syngenta seed dealer. During those years he served on the Growmark board of directors, as well as the Rantoul Township High School board and Somers Township board. He was president of East Central IL Grain Co. and the IL Angus Association, and was a Beaver Lake Drainage commissioner. He volunteered as a 4-H Leader and softball coach, and was a member of St. Elizabeth Church his entire life. He was president of the Holy Name Society, a member of Knights of Columbus, and served and lectored at Masses. 

He was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Fighting Illini sports, and was an avid sportsman.