Joseph E. Kolis

Joe was born on December 10, 1924, to a poor working class family at his parent’s house in Springfield. He was number seven of nine children. Joe met the love of his life and married Helen Flesch on April 15, 1950. They remained married for 67 years until Helen’s death in 2018.

Growing up, Joe’s father was a coal miner and died when Joe was 6 years old in the middle of the Great Depression. As a result of his father’s death, the family was almost split apart and sent to the orphanage. Luckily, Joe’s mother was very strong-willed and with the help of his older siblings, a lot of sacrifices, and Joe joining in to support the family working odd jobs at a very young age kept this from happening. Joe attended St. Agnes Grade School and Cathedral Boys High School until his junior year when he joined in the war effort with the Merchant Marines. Joe’s proudest days were spent with the Merchant Marines during World War II. During his service, Joe made 7 voyages to England while under constant German U-boat threat, 2 Mediterranean voyages including landing on the beach during the invasion of Southern France, and 2 Pacific voyages to include landing on the beach during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He received the Congressional Gold Medal for his service with the Merchant Marines on Veterans’ Day three weeks before his death. Returning home after the war, Joe began his lifelong career as a bricklayer and stone mason until he was laid off at the age of 70.

Joe was also a founding member of the Sangamon County Rescue Squad, using his personal truck as one of the unit’s first vehicles. He participated in the Boy Scouts as an assistant troop leader and he was active in politics serving as the Democratic Precinct Committeeman of the 47th Precinct from the 1960s until the 1980s.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Johanna (Biallis); siblings, Agnes (Hamrick), Stanley, Anna (Gillen), Clara (Heinemann-Erdman), Theresa (DeGrande), James, Andrew; and granddaughter, Emily Gronau. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Morgan; sons, Marcus and Joseph (Krista); daughter, Janice Gronau (Ricardo Segobiano); nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation and Funeral Mass: Family will receive friends from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 245 North Amos Avenue. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Christopher Trummer, celebrant.

Graveside Ceremony: 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 11, 2023, at Camp Butler National Cemetery with military honors provided by the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Merchant Marine Veterans (www.ammv.us).

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.