Joe Gary Vernon, 84, of Pekin, Illinois, formerly of Hanna City, passed away on Monday, March 22, 2021, at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.
Joe was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, on March 26, 1936, to Lucille D. Blackburn Vernon and Herschel G. Vernon.
He later moved with his family to St. Louis, and then Hanna City, IL. He attended Farmington High School, where he enjoyed playing baseball, football, playing the violin, acting and singing in their theatre productions, graduating in 1954. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 1958, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and participated in numerous theatre productions. In 1958, he began active duty in the Air National Guard and served his country for 7 years.
He married Marilyn Haney at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in 1958. They were married for 63 years.
He leaves his loving wife and four children, David (Linda) of Sarasota, FL, Kathy Malpede (Jim) of Glen Ellyn, IL, Linda of Morton and Gary (Sally) of Westport, MA; five grandchildren, Will, Caroline, Charlie, Owen and Patrick; a sister, Judy (Fontana), her husband, Bob, and two nieces and one nephew.
Joe worked at the Peoria Health Department and then as Personnel Director at American Pest Control. In addition, he and Marilyn ran the family farm.
As an active member of the Hanna City Presbyterian Church, he directed the choir and was a church elder for many years. Joe had a beautiful singing voice. He sang at numerous weddings, funerals and events. During the 1970s, Joe was a choir member for the local television show, Chapel Vision. He also enjoyed singing in the Pekin and Bloomington Barbershop Chorus after retirement.
He was a member of the Illini Bluffs School Board for 8 years. As a gifted athlete, he enjoyed playing softball in church and competitive leagues into his 40s.
Joe had a deep faith and was a devoted husband and family man. He loved attending all of his kids' athletic events and activities. As a grandpa, he was often at his grandchildren's soccer games in Glen Ellyn and baseball games in Westport, MA. After retiring in 1997, Joe and Marilyn enjoyed traveling, wintering in Sarasota, and visiting their kids. He loved golfing with his sons and friends, spending time with friends and enjoyed watching his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.
Joe's memorial service will be private.
Published in Peoria Journal Star from Mar. 23 to Mar. 25, 2021
Joe was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, on March 26, 1936, to Lucille D. Blackburn Vernon and Herschel G. Vernon.
He later moved with his family to St. Louis, and then Hanna City, IL. He attended Farmington High School, where he enjoyed playing baseball, football, playing the violin, acting and singing in their theatre productions, graduating in 1954. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 1958, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and participated in numerous theatre productions. In 1958, he began active duty in the Air National Guard and served his country for 7 years.
He married Marilyn Haney at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in 1958. They were married for 63 years.
He leaves his loving wife and four children, David (Linda) of Sarasota, FL, Kathy Malpede (Jim) of Glen Ellyn, IL, Linda of Morton and Gary (Sally) of Westport, MA; five grandchildren, Will, Caroline, Charlie, Owen and Patrick; a sister, Judy (Fontana), her husband, Bob, and two nieces and one nephew.
Joe worked at the Peoria Health Department and then as Personnel Director at American Pest Control. In addition, he and Marilyn ran the family farm.
As an active member of the Hanna City Presbyterian Church, he directed the choir and was a church elder for many years. Joe had a beautiful singing voice. He sang at numerous weddings, funerals and events. During the 1970s, Joe was a choir member for the local television show, Chapel Vision. He also enjoyed singing in the Pekin and Bloomington Barbershop Chorus after retirement.
He was a member of the Illini Bluffs School Board for 8 years. As a gifted athlete, he enjoyed playing softball in church and competitive leagues into his 40s.
Joe had a deep faith and was a devoted husband and family man. He loved attending all of his kids' athletic events and activities. As a grandpa, he was often at his grandchildren's soccer games in Glen Ellyn and baseball games in Westport, MA. After retiring in 1997, Joe and Marilyn enjoyed traveling, wintering in Sarasota, and visiting their kids. He loved golfing with his sons and friends, spending time with friends and enjoyed watching his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.
Joe's memorial service will be private.
Published in Peoria Journal Star from Mar. 23 to Mar. 25, 2021
Joe Gary Vernon, 84, of Pekin, Illinois, formerly of Hanna City, passed away on Monday, March 22, 2021, at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria.
Joe was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, on March 26, 1936, to Lucille D. Blackburn Vernon and Herschel G. Vernon.
He later moved with his family to St. Louis, and then Hanna City, IL. He attended Farmington High School, where he enjoyed playing baseball, football, playing the violin, acting and singing in their theatre productions, graduating in 1954. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 1958, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and participated in numerous theatre productions. In 1958, he began active duty in the Air National Guard and served his country for 7 years.
He married Marilyn Haney at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in 1958. They were married for 63 years.
He leaves his loving wife and four children, David (Linda) of Sarasota, FL, Kathy Malpede (Jim) of Glen Ellyn, IL, Linda of Morton and Gary (Sally) of Westport, MA; five grandchildren, Will, Caroline, Charlie, Owen and Patrick; a sister, Judy (Fontana), her husband, Bob, and two nieces and one nephew.
Joe worked at the Peoria Health Department and then as Personnel Director at American Pest Control. In addition, he and Marilyn ran the family farm.
As an active member of the Hanna City Presbyterian Church, he directed the choir and was a church elder for many years. Joe had a beautiful singing voice. He sang at numerous weddings, funerals and events. During the 1970s, Joe was a choir member for the local television show, Chapel Vision. He also enjoyed singing in the Pekin and Bloomington Barbershop Chorus after retirement.
He was a member of the Illini Bluffs School Board for 8 years. As a gifted athlete, he enjoyed playing softball in church and competitive leagues into his 40s.
Joe had a deep faith and was a devoted husband and family man. He loved attending all of his kids' athletic events and activities. As a grandpa, he was often at his grandchildren's soccer games in Glen Ellyn and baseball games in Westport, MA. After retiring in 1997, Joe and Marilyn enjoyed traveling, wintering in Sarasota, and visiting their kids. He loved golfing with his sons and friends, spending time with friends and enjoyed watching his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.
Joe's memorial service will be private.
Published in Peoria Journal Star from Mar. 23 to Mar. 25, 2021
Joe was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, on March 26, 1936, to Lucille D. Blackburn Vernon and Herschel G. Vernon.
He later moved with his family to St. Louis, and then Hanna City, IL. He attended Farmington High School, where he enjoyed playing baseball, football, playing the violin, acting and singing in their theatre productions, graduating in 1954. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 1958, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and participated in numerous theatre productions. In 1958, he began active duty in the Air National Guard and served his country for 7 years.
He married Marilyn Haney at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in 1958. They were married for 63 years.
He leaves his loving wife and four children, David (Linda) of Sarasota, FL, Kathy Malpede (Jim) of Glen Ellyn, IL, Linda of Morton and Gary (Sally) of Westport, MA; five grandchildren, Will, Caroline, Charlie, Owen and Patrick; a sister, Judy (Fontana), her husband, Bob, and two nieces and one nephew.
Joe worked at the Peoria Health Department and then as Personnel Director at American Pest Control. In addition, he and Marilyn ran the family farm.
As an active member of the Hanna City Presbyterian Church, he directed the choir and was a church elder for many years. Joe had a beautiful singing voice. He sang at numerous weddings, funerals and events. During the 1970s, Joe was a choir member for the local television show, Chapel Vision. He also enjoyed singing in the Pekin and Bloomington Barbershop Chorus after retirement.
He was a member of the Illini Bluffs School Board for 8 years. As a gifted athlete, he enjoyed playing softball in church and competitive leagues into his 40s.
Joe had a deep faith and was a devoted husband and family man. He loved attending all of his kids' athletic events and activities. As a grandpa, he was often at his grandchildren's soccer games in Glen Ellyn and baseball games in Westport, MA. After retiring in 1997, Joe and Marilyn enjoyed traveling, wintering in Sarasota, and visiting their kids. He loved golfing with his sons and friends, spending time with friends and enjoyed watching his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.
Joe's memorial service will be private.
Published in Peoria Journal Star from Mar. 23 to Mar. 25, 2021
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