Joseph D. Iorio

COLUMBIA, IL - Joseph D. "Papa Joe" Iorio, 91, of Columbia, formerly of Kewanee, died Saturday evening, July 1, 2023 at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, MO.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 7 at Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee. Celebrant will be Fr. Ghislain Inai, Sma. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church with recitation of the rosary at 9:45 a.m. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery where military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council. Memorials may be directed to Saint John Paul II Parish. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is in charge of arrangements. 

He was born May 4, 1932 in Rensselaer, NY, the son of Donato and Teresa (Grossi) Iorio. He married Dorothy A. Phillips on July 29, 1952 in Kewanee and she preceded him in death on March 1, 1976. He later married Therese Langley on August 30, 1997. She survives as do three sons, Joseph (Amy) Iorio of Columbia, Thomas (Sonna) Iorio of Rantoul, IL and Daniel (Laurie) Iorio of Waterloo, IL, a step-son, Mark Langley of Boca Raton, FL, nine grandchildren: Ryan (Renee) Gwynn, Bethany (Dan) Williamson, Natasha (Jason) Riley, Taylor Iorio, Rylee Iorio, J.T. Iorio, Tucker Iorio, Nick (Peyton) Iorio and Seth Iorio, seven great grandchildren; Nathan, Gwynn, Claire, Emerson, Norah, Cecelia “C.C.” and Klayton. He was also preceded in death by his parents, a brother, John and two sisters, Angela and Rose.

Joe graduated from St. Johns Academy in 1950 and served his country with the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. He had worked as a plumber for 32 years at Dooley Brothers Plumbing, retiring in 1990. He had been a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, now Saint John Paul II Parish. He also attended St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Waterloo. Joe was a handyman and willingly helped anyone who was in need of assistance. He deeply loved his children and grandchildren and their families and enjoyed spending time with them. 

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