Joseph Rea

Joseph John Rea, 98, previously of Elgin, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 2, 2020 in Cuba, MO. Joe was the eldest of three children born to the late Denzel and Rose Rea on March 19, 1922. Born on the Feast of St. Joseph Day, he was named in the saint’s honor.


Raised in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago, Joe attended St. Sebastian’s grade school where his Aunt Theresa, a nun, was his first grade teacher. Growing up on Montana St. and, later, Sheffield Ave., Joe enjoyed fishing with his cousin, playing marbles and collecting baseball cards and playing softball with friends.


He attended and graduated from Waller High School where he excelled at math and participated in the school’s glee club. A life-long love of music, singing and performing was cultivated in high school. A highlight of Joe’s high school years was performing in a show singing the solo, “Wishing (Will Make it So)” with his beloved Aunt Esther in the audience. Taking money from postal bonds he had saved, Joe was known to have skipped school a time or two to take in a movie. For fifteen cents, he would enjoy watching his favorite actors and actresses among them Don Ameche and Laraine Day. His favorite movie then and for many years to come was Rose Marie starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald.


After high school at the age of 21, Joe was drafted into the army during World War ll and spent most of his 32 months in service in the European theater. Initially he served in the 18th Chemical Unit. While his unit was being transported to active deployment, Joe contracted scarlet fever and was sent to the hospital to recover. Upon his release, he was transferred to the 67th Military Police unit in Ludwigshafen, Germany. After the war in Germany, his MP unit was transferred to Marseille, France. Upon recollecting his time spent in the army, Joe would always say that “it made a man out of me.”


Among all of his memories of his years in service, the most significant ones revolved around the special letters he received from a certain beautiful blonde named Arlene. Joe’s Aunt Esther had asked her co-worker, Arlene, to write Joe to boost his morale. A romance eventually blossomed within the pages, and upon Joe’s discharge in November 1945, the pair began dating and were married at St. Francis Xavier Church on April 12, 1947.


Shortly after getting married, Joe began working at Stewart Warner Corporation in Chicago. He remained there for close to 40 years until his retirement in 1987 as OEM Expediting Manager. While working at Stewart Warner, Joe also held part time jobs as a water meter reader, a newspaper delivery driver, and at Walgreens, always being responsible for doing what he needed to do to support and provide for his family. With his easy, affable manner, sense of humor and loyalty, Joe cultivated many life-long friendships during his time at Stewart Warner. He played on the company softball team and bowling teams as well as being involved in various departmental skits and organizing the annual golf outing.


A life-long and devout Catholic, Joe’s commitment to his faith was unwavering and essential to his identity. Throughout the years within several different parishes, Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus, served as president of the Holy Name Society and served as an usher, lector and Eucharistic minister. He always expressed gratitude for all the blessings “the Good Lord” had bestowed upon him.


In addition to his faith, love of and commitment to his family was how Joe defined and measured himself. He credited his mother for teaching him honesty and family values and he, along with Arlene, instilled those values in their daughters. He was a constant, loving, reassuring, helpful presence in their lives and in the lives of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There was nothing he would not do or sacrifice for his family’s well-being. He made his family feel safe, protected and loved. When he embraced you in a hug, you knew things were going to be okay.


Joe enjoyed many pastimes and activities. Growing up on Chicago’s North Side, Joe was a Cubs fan from an early age. He would often take Arlene and their daughters to Wrigley Field on Ladies’ Days. Although disappointed over many long, dry seasons and years, he remained a loyal fan. The phrase, “there’s always next year,” became a long-awaited joyous reality for Joe as he celebrated the Cubs’ World Series win in 2016 at the age of 94. Joe was also an avid golfer for most of his life and even worked for many years after retirement as a ranger and starter at the Bartlett Hills Golf Club. He enjoyed playing 16” softball and played on several teams. Bowling was a favorite pastime and Joe was known for his 2-holed bowling ball and high scores for the teams on which he participated. He also enjoyed a contemplative game of chess and playing pinochle with his buddies. Joe was a born performer and storyteller. An extrovert who, oddly enough, did not like to be the center of attention, he enjoyed participating in church musicals such as Guys and Dolls. He loved listening to music and singing along to his favorites. He liked telling a good joke or story and would embellish it with each retelling for extra enjoyment. He had a love of words and could unscramble the daily Jumble puzzles in a matter of seconds and he rarely met a crossword puzzle he could not solve. Joe enjoyed rhymes and would often compose poems for special occasions for family and friends.


In May 2019, Joe was preceded in death by his beloved Arlene, his wife of 72 years. He was the loving father of and is survived by his five daughters Dianne Soss, Barbara (Gary) Cox, Julie (Paul) Crow, Nancy Rock and Sharon (Bob) Rosenberger. Joe was an adored grandfather of 10 and loving great-grandfather to 17.


Joe was loving, self-effacing, humble and quick-to-laugh, the life of the party with an infectious, full-bodied laugh. He was a faithful and loving husband, devoted father, doting grandfather and great-grandfather and loyal friend. He was a gentleman and a stand-up guy. He will be greatly missed and remembered by many who are forever grateful and blessed that he was a part of their lives. We love you, Dad.

Due to COVID, the Rea family requests that only immediate family attend visitation, mass and cemetery services. A celebration of Joe’s life is planned for all who wish to attend in March 2021 after COVID restrictions have been lifted. Thank you for your understanding.




Joseph J. Rea, 98, of Elgin, formerly of Chicago, passed away Sunday, August 2 in Cuba, MO. An Army Veteran of World War II, Joseph was an avid Cubs fan who enjoyed golfing. Beloved husband of 72 years to the late Arlene(nee Sandvick); loving father of Dianne Soss, Barbara(Gary) Cox, Julie(Paul) Crow, Nancy Rock, and Sharon(Robert) Rosenberger; proud grandfather of 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Visitation Monday, August 10 from 10:00am to 11:00am at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory 95 S. Gilbert St.(at State St.), South Elgin to St. Laurence Church. Mass 11:30am. Interment St. Michael the Archangel. Info (847)289-8054