Official Obituary of
Joseph Holbrook
January 10, 1924 ~ January 17, 2009 (age 85) 85 Years Old
Joseph Holbrook Obituary
Joseph Holbrook, 85, a long-time and much-respected resident of Monticello, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, at the Piatt County Nursing Home surrounded by his loving family. A most caring husband, involved father, and wise grandfather, Joe will be sorely missed.
His family will welcome visitors at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, 215 East Washington, Monticello, Illinois on Tuesday, January, 20, 2009, from 6:00pm8:00pm. A funeral mass will be held at St Philomena Church, in Monticello, 1301 North Market St. Monticello, Illinois at 11:00am on Wednesday, January, 21, 2009. Interment will follow at Monticello Township Cemetery with military graveside rights.
Joe was born Jan 10, 1924, in Evanston, IL, a son of Rufus Sage and Anna Dalton Holbrook. A graduate of Maine Township High School, Joe briefly attended Maine Junior College. He then attended the University of Oklahoma, where he enlisted in the Army Aircorp Cadets; during WWII, he then served as a training pilot while stationed in California, New Mexico, and Colorado. Following the war, he returned to Evanston to attend Northwestern. There, he completed his bachelors degree in Physical Education and his Masters in Educational Administration. While at Northwestern, he met Barbara Heeren of Chicago, and they were married in 1947. She survives.
Also surviving are Joe and Barbs six children: Lee Ann of Bridgeport, Jan (Tom) Hawkins of Centralia, Tom (Cathy) of Normal, Bob (Hilary) of Urbana, Libby of Peoria, and Howie (Chris) of Wheaton. Joe is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Joe also leaves behind his brother, Stanley and his wife Florence of Mt. Prospect, as well as several nieces and nephews, including Karen Henebry, who lived with Joe and Barbaras family for a year.
After teaching physical education at Maine Township High School, Joe worked for many years in sales for U.S. Gypsum. He was best known for his work as a sales representative for Monticellos Burgess & Cline Insurance, where he worked until his retirement in 1988.
Having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, Joe had been an active volunteer in Monticellos Boy Scout Troop 122. He was also a member of St. Philomenas Church, and of the American Legion Hamm Burke Post 101.
Joe played trumpet in high school, and enjoyed playing in community bands, and for the American Legion. He diligently followed his children and grandchildren in their band, musical and theatrical pursuits, passing down his trumpet skills to two of his grandsons. An avid Illini fan, Joe also enjoyed attending the many sports in which his children and grand children participated, including his grandsons college football career.
Memorials may be sent to the Halcyon Unit of the Piatt County Nursing Home, 1111 North State St., PO Box 410, Monticello, IL 61856.
His family will welcome visitors at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, 215 East Washington, Monticello, Illinois on Tuesday, January, 20, 2009, from 6:00pm8:00pm. A funeral mass will be held at St Philomena Church, in Monticello, 1301 North Market St. Monticello, Illinois at 11:00am on Wednesday, January, 21, 2009. Interment will follow at Monticello Township Cemetery with military graveside rights.
Joe was born Jan 10, 1924, in Evanston, IL, a son of Rufus Sage and Anna Dalton Holbrook. A graduate of Maine Township High School, Joe briefly attended Maine Junior College. He then attended the University of Oklahoma, where he enlisted in the Army Aircorp Cadets; during WWII, he then served as a training pilot while stationed in California, New Mexico, and Colorado. Following the war, he returned to Evanston to attend Northwestern. There, he completed his bachelors degree in Physical Education and his Masters in Educational Administration. While at Northwestern, he met Barbara Heeren of Chicago, and they were married in 1947. She survives.
Also surviving are Joe and Barbs six children: Lee Ann of Bridgeport, Jan (Tom) Hawkins of Centralia, Tom (Cathy) of Normal, Bob (Hilary) of Urbana, Libby of Peoria, and Howie (Chris) of Wheaton. Joe is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Joe also leaves behind his brother, Stanley and his wife Florence of Mt. Prospect, as well as several nieces and nephews, including Karen Henebry, who lived with Joe and Barbaras family for a year.
After teaching physical education at Maine Township High School, Joe worked for many years in sales for U.S. Gypsum. He was best known for his work as a sales representative for Monticellos Burgess & Cline Insurance, where he worked until his retirement in 1988.
Having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, Joe had been an active volunteer in Monticellos Boy Scout Troop 122. He was also a member of St. Philomenas Church, and of the American Legion Hamm Burke Post 101.
Joe played trumpet in high school, and enjoyed playing in community bands, and for the American Legion. He diligently followed his children and grandchildren in their band, musical and theatrical pursuits, passing down his trumpet skills to two of his grandsons. An avid Illini fan, Joe also enjoyed attending the many sports in which his children and grand children participated, including his grandsons college football career.
Memorials may be sent to the Halcyon Unit of the Piatt County Nursing Home, 1111 North State St., PO Box 410, Monticello, IL 61856.
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