Joseph W. Missavage

Joseph W. Missavage, Jr., age 88, of Monmouth, Ill. passed away at 10:20 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Rosewood Care Center in Galesburg, Ill. Joseph was born in Royalton,Ill., March 24, 1920, of Polish /Lithuanian discent. Joseph and Mary Missavage. He attended Royalton and Zeighler schools where he played football, basketball and baseball. In 1936, at the age of 16, he tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals. His father felt his schooling was more important and would not sign the contract that would allow a minor to play. In 1938 he arrived at Monmouth College accepting a football scholarship and worked part time at Illinois Bankers Life through his college years. In 1941 he received a letter from the Philadelphia Eagles football management asking if he was interested in playing pro ball. Instead he was drafted into the armed services and was enlisted in the Air Force by 1942, He fought with the ground forces and traveled throughout the world until he was discharged from the service in 1946. He married Lucille Lynch in 1942. They were married for 33 years and together they had ten children. They divorced in 1975. He married Regina Wolf in 1976. They were married for 21 years before her passing. Together they traveled throughout all 50 states and much of Canada and Europe. He farmed from 1947 to 1975 and was one of the top Pioneer Seed dealers from 1960 to 1987. He owned and raced a string of pacing and trotting racehorses for many years. Some of his memberships included the Immaculate Conception Church, Knights of Columbus, Elks Club, VFW, American legion, Phi Kap and ATO fraternities. For 9 years he served on the Yorkwood School Board. In 1987 he retired and spent winter months in Florida and his summers in Illinois. In 2001 he gave up his Florida residency moving to the Monmouth area. In 2007 he moved into The Legacy, a supportive living center and in 2008, after serious illness, he moved to Rosewood Care Center. He survived by his children, J. David Missavage (Pat Andersen) Monmouth, JoAnn Waddell (John), Burlington, Iowa, John D. Missavage (Sharon) of Pasedena, Texas, Jim (Martha) Missavage, Kirkwood, Illinois, Jane (Larry) Mitchell, Cameron, Illinois, Tom (Teri) Missavage, Monmouth, Illinois, Mary Driskell, Serenity, Colorado, Paul (Mirielle) Missavage, Heidershield, Luxembourg. His step children; Bob (Louise) Wolf, Knoxville, Illinois, Rod (Amy) Wolf, Peoria, Illinois, Bruce (Joyce) Wolf, Kirkwood, Illinois, Max (Susan) Wolf, Monmouth, Illinois, Gene Wolf, Florida, Jack Wolf (Annette), Florida, and Ann (Tom) Frieden, Sycamore, Illinois. His brothers; Richard (Laura) Missavage, Florisant, Missouri, Gene (Marie) Missavage, Winter Garden, Florida and Leonard Missavage of Indialantic, Florida, and sister Dorothy Missavage, Royalton, Illinois, There are 27 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren with numerous step children and step great grandchildren Preceding him in death are his parents, his wife Regina, brother Charles, daughter Margaret and son Douglas. He also leaves behind many of his card-playing friends from the Strom Center and VFW. Services:Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2009, at Immaculate Conception Church in Monmouth. Interment will be in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Monmouth. A rosary will be recited at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth on Thursday, February 26, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. with visitation to follow. A memorial fund is being established for either Immaculate Conception Church or Rosewood Card Center in Galesburg.