Joe J. Church, 95, of Swansea, IL; formerly of Marissa, IL; born on October 15, 1921 in Marissa, IL; passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at Sycamore Village in Swansea, IL.
Mr. Church was the owner and operator of Church and Hamilton Insurance Agency and the Marissa Building and Loan. He was a United States Army Air Corp Veteran serving as a navigator and bombardier during both World War II and the Korean War. He also spent 30 years in the Air Force Reserves obtaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was a member of the Marissa Rotary Club. Mr. Church was a lifelong and very active member of the First Baptist Church of Marissa. Joe and his wife Mary were avid Christian music enthusiasts and often attended Christian music programs. Joe was a humble man and a loving husband, father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his parents – Joe and Rose, nee Dlouhy, Church. His wife Mary, nee Been, Church whom he married on March 17, 1945 at Scott Air Force Base and who passed away on February 16, 2013. Also preceded in death by a brother and a sister.
He is survived by his son – David (Pati) Church of Swansea, IL. His grandsons – David (Jamie) Church of O’Fallon, IL; Jason (Demeka) Church of Franklin, TN. Five grandchildren – Jakob; Camden; Hudson; Greyson; Samantha.
The family would like to extend a very heartfelt expression of gratitude for the wonderful care, kindness and love that was provided to Joe by Sycamore Village and Vitas Hospice.
Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.heilschuessler.com.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Vitas Hospice.
Visitation: Friends may call at the First Baptist Church in Marissa, IL on Saturday, February 11, 2017 from 9:00am to 10:30am.
Funeral: Services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Marissa, IL on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 10:30am with Rev. Jim Wiens officiating.
Interment: Burial will be held in the Marissa Township Cemetery in Marissa, IL.
Heil-Schuessler Funeral Home in Marissa, IL is in charge of arrangements.
Dave, Pati and Family,
May you find a bit of peace and comfort in your memories of your dad and the love of your friends who are holding you close in thought and prayer.
Posted by: Paul and Susan Jones – Belleville, IL – Friend Feb 11, 2017
ReplyJoe Church was a “Giver”. My Dad grew up with Joe and Mom and Dad went to school with Joe and Mary and were Lifelong Friends. My Grandma and Grandpa,
Ruth and Lonnie McGough, and my Uncle Olin knew, liked, and respected Joe as long as they lived and Joe was a pallbearer for each of them when they died. My Uncle Bob Forsythe and Joe and the regulars at Bob’s Barber Shop held court regularly and solved the large
… more
Posted by: Dennis Forsythe – Belleville, IL – Friend Feb 10, 2017
ReplyJoe was our brother-in-law and we visited with him each time we came to Illinois. Joe loved to talk about airplanes and family and all the old family get togethers that happened in Marissa. Joe loved family and even all of us “in-laws”. He and Ray revisited so many things each time they got together. He was always happy and glad you came to see him. As a younger man he was always willing to help and advise you
Posted by: Ruth & Ray Been – Mulvane, KS Feb 10, 2017
Just thinking of Joe makes me smile. He was a great friend to my dad and uncle since childhood and I loved hearing their stories. I will cherish the memory of Joe’s gentle smile and kind heart. He was a blessing to many and I am thankful that God placed him in my life. My sincerest sympathy to Dave, Pati and the family.
Posted by: Karen Forsythe Knight – Destin, FL Feb 10, 2017
ReplyI worked in the business office at St. Paul’s Home so I remember both Mary and Joe. What I remember most vividly was Joe coming down the hall to the solarium and playing the piano…old beloved hymns and sometimes a jazzy ragtime tune. He often would stop and we would talk about playing the piano and singing…… since I did both. Of course I always enjoyed visiting with David and Pati as well. Joe was such a gentleman and lived a long rewarding life. May God’s grace and peace be with all the family during this difficult time. Jeannie Lowry
Posted by: Jeannie Lowry – Swansea, IL – Acquaintance Feb 10, 2017
ReplyI could write a book about Joe. He did so many kind things for me over the years.
Posted by: Stephen Gregory – stl, MO – Family Feb 10, 2017
ReplyUncle Joe and Aunt Mary Church were such treasures to me. Times spent with them were magical. They were such wonderful examples to me and my cousins, and always made us feel so loved and special. While o miss them dearly, I know that one day I will meet them again in our eternal home.
Posted by: Katie (McPheeters) Barter – Ozark, IL – Family Feb 10, 2017
ReplyJoe was one of my favorite people…he was our neighbor here in Fairview.
He was always pleasant and had a wonderful sense of humor.
Often we would have him over to eat with us and he would say “I think we could take this on the road” I believe he enjoyed his time with us, as we did with him.
Joe made life more enjoyable. We thank God for the time we shared together.
Posted by: Kenneth & Wanda Miller – Fairview Heights, IL – Neighbor Feb 09, 2017
ReplyDear David and family, Ken and I send our prayers and love to you. Both your dad and mother were so important to me in my Christian walk growing up. They, at different times, were my Sunday School teachers; and your mother was my guild leader. They taught me so much about God, love and family. I will never forgot a story your mother told one Sunday. You were to clean off the breakfast table that morning.
Posted by: Sherri Wildt – FL – Family Friend Feb 09, 2017
Joe and Mary were a delightful part of my childhood, both in our neighborhood and in the church I grew up. They were a faithful part of the church where my dad pastored. The whole Church/McGill/Gregory/Been clan were all almost like surrogate grandparents to me, especially since my own did not live close by.
Posted by: Curtis Paul Lawson – Montgomery, TX – Family Friend Feb 09, 2017
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Joe and Mary were a delightful part of my childhood, both in our neighborhood and in the church I grew up. They were a faithful part of the church where my dad pastored. The whole Church/McGill/Gregory/Been clan were all almost like surrogate grandparents to me, especially since my own did not live close by.
Posted by: Curtis Paul Lawson – Montgomery, TX – Family Friend Feb 09, 2017
Dear David and family, Ken and I send our prayers and love to you. Both your dad and mother were so important to me in my Christian walk growing up. They, at different times, were my Sunday School teachers; and your mother was my guild leader. They taught me so much about God, love and family. I will never forgot a story your mother told one Sunday. You were to clean off the breakfast table that morning.
Posted by: Sherri Wildt – FL – Family Friend Feb 09, 2017
Joe was one of my favorite people…he was our neighbor here in Fairview.
He was always pleasant and had a wonderful sense of humor.
Often we would have him over to eat with us and he would say “I think we could take this on the road” I believe he enjoyed his time with us, as we did with him.
Joe made life more enjoyable. We thank God for the time we shared together.
Posted by: Kenneth & Wanda Miller – Fairview Heights, IL – Neighbor Feb 09, 2017
Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary Church were such treasures to me. Times spent with them were magical. They were such wonderful examples to me and my cousins, and always made us feel so loved and special. While o miss them dearly, I know that one day I will meet them again in our eternal home.
Posted by: Katie (McPheeters) Barter – Ozark, IL – Family Feb 10, 2017
I could write a book about Joe. He did so many kind things for me over the years.
Posted by: Stephen Gregory – stl, MO – Family Feb 10, 2017
I worked in the business office at St. Paul’s Home so I remember both Mary and Joe. What I remember most vividly was Joe coming down the hall to the solarium and playing the piano…old beloved hymns and sometimes a jazzy ragtime tune. He often would stop and we would talk about playing the piano and singing…… since I did both. Of course I always enjoyed visiting with David and Pati as well. Joe was such a gentleman and lived a long rewarding life. May God’s grace and peace be with all the family during this difficult time. Jeannie Lowry
Posted by: Jeannie Lowry – Swansea, IL – Acquaintance Feb 10, 2017
Just thinking of Joe makes me smile. He was a great friend to my dad and uncle since childhood and I loved hearing their stories. I will cherish the memory of Joe’s gentle smile and kind heart. He was a blessing to many and I am thankful that God placed him in my life. My sincerest sympathy to Dave, Pati and the family.
Posted by: Karen Forsythe Knight – Destin, FL Feb 10, 2017
Joe was our brother-in-law and we visited with him each time we came to Illinois. Joe loved to talk about airplanes and family and all the old family get togethers that happened in Marissa. Joe loved family and even all of us “in-laws”. He and Ray revisited so many things each time they got together. He was always happy and glad you came to see him. As a younger man he was always willing to help and advise you
Posted by: Ruth & Ray Been – Mulvane, KS Feb 10, 2017
Joe Church was a “Giver”. My Dad grew up with Joe and Mom and Dad went to school with Joe and Mary and were Lifelong Friends. My Grandma and Grandpa,
Ruth and Lonnie McGough, and my Uncle Olin knew, liked, and respected Joe as long as they lived and Joe was a pallbearer for each of them when they died. My Uncle Bob Forsythe and Joe and the regulars at Bob’s Barber Shop held court regularly and solved the large
… more
Posted by: Dennis Forsythe – Belleville, IL – Friend Feb 10, 2017
Dave, Pati and Family,
May you find a bit of peace and comfort in your memories of your dad and the love of your friends who are holding you close in thought and prayer.
Posted by: Paul and Susan Jones – Belleville, IL – Friend Feb 11, 2017