Obituary index

Joseph Orville “Joe” Elsberry

[September 30, 2014]  LINCOLN - Joseph Orville “Joe” Elsberry, 85, of Springfield, formerly of Lincoln, passed away September 23, 2014 at St. John’s Hospice in Springfield.  

Visitation: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, at Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral Home

Service: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home

Funeral home: Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral Home

Obituary

Joseph Orville “Joe” Elsberry, 85, of Springfield, formerly of Lincoln, passed away September 23, 2014 at St. John’s Hospice in Springfield.  

Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Tuesday September 30, 2014 at Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral Home in Lincoln.  Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday also at the funeral home with Rev. Michael Paulsen officiating.  Burial will follow in New Union Cemetery, Lincoln with military honors provided by the Lincoln American Legion Post 263.

Joe was born February 10, 1929 in Monmouth, the son of Joseph Arthur Elsberry and Rhoda (Bass) Elsberry.  He married Patricia Ann Kuntzi on April 29, 1951 in East St. Louis.  She preceded him in death on May 26, 1986.

Mr. Elsberry proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War.  He received the Korean Service Medal, three Bronze Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.  He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 263, a lifetime member of the VFW Post 1756, lifetime member of AMVETS, a member of Teamsters Local 710, past member of the Eagles Lodge 2708 and past member of the Lincoln Elks Club 914.  He was of the Methodist faith.

Joe was a truck driver for CKC freight lines for 26 years. He was also a past City of Lincoln Police Officer and a Cab Driver for Safe Ride in Lincoln.

Surviving are his daughter Cindy (Randy) Ramirez of Springfield; his son Randy (Martha) Elsberry of Lincoln; granddaughter Michelle (Jason) Woodside of Pinckneyville; great granddaughter Lexie Woodside also of Pinckneyville; sister Ruth Bentzinger of Carthage, half-sister Mary Blankenship of Atlanta; half-brother Bill (Fannie) Elsberry of Hopedale; 17 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his step mother Wilma Smith Elsberry, his half-sister Rita Patton, and his half-sister Sherry Elsberry.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lincoln First United Methodist Church or to Senior Services of Central Illinois at 701 W Mason Springfield, IL.  62702 and will also be accepted at the funeral home.

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