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Joseph P. Simons III
Joseph P. Simons III
Posted
On Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, we said goodbye to Joseph P. Simons III (“Yip”) after he lost his long battle with a rare form of Pulmonary Fibrosis at the age of 71.
Joe was a devoted husband to Karen Simons for over 38 years; loving father to Lexi Levitz (John), Mike Simons, Deborah Porpora, and Susan Porpora; and a doting grandfather to McKenzie (12), Jack (10), Colin (7), Bennett (5), and Antonietta (7). He was preceded in death by his first wife and mother to Lexi and Mike, Sandy LeBryk Simons; parents, Joseph P. Simons II and Eileen Anderson Simons; and brother, Bill Simons.
Joe attended Fenwick High School and Southern Illinois University, where he majored in business and education. Joe had a true passion for baseball and played in both high school and college.
Joe began his career with J.P. Simons & Company, before he went on to start his own business, Eagle High Mast Lighting Co. He was the past president of both the Electric Golf Club and Little Wheels Organization. He was an avid golfer with 5 hole-in-ones throughout his life. He enjoyed watching his Chicago Cubs and Bears on television at any chance he got. His life’s greatest disappointment may have been that he never got “called up” to play for any professional team. Joe always asked Karen to be sure she had his glove warmed up... just on the off chance they called him off the couch.
Joe was the life of the party. He always had a favorite story to tell (and sometimes tell again) up until the very end. He loved his family and his friends greatly and took great pride and joy in retelling stories of his favorite memories.
The family will be hosting a Funeral Mass for Joe at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church in Scottsdale, AZ on Monday, Jan. 7 at 1:00 pm. A second Mass will be held on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Inverness, Ill.
As Diabetes has touched our family’s lives so deeply, the family requests no flowers, but instead, please consider making a donation to JDRF, noting that your contribution is in honor of Joe Simons. Another cause that Joe had a special place in his heart for was dogs. He would otherwise be touched by any donations, in his honor, made to Pathways Home Animal Rescue in Phoenix, AZ.
