Joseph Gaskill Jr.

JOSEPH GASKILL JR.

Oswego

Joseph Alfred Gaskill Jr., 84, of Oswego, Ill., passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at Tabor Hills in Naperville, Ill., after a brief battle with mesothelioma.

Joe was born on Jan. 1, 1930, in Cedar Rapids,

Iowa, and was the son of Joseph A. and Beulah M. (Hess) Gaskill.

Joe graduated from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids in 1948. On Nov. 4, 1949, Joe married his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline J. Steyne, in Anamosa, Iowa. Joe began his career at Wilson & Co. in Cedar Rapids. Joe then worked for Louis Rich Foods in the 1960s where he helped develop turkey bacon, sausage and cold cuts. Joe moved on to Culinary Foods in Chicago into the emerging institutional and airline food business. Joe retired from Culinary Foods in 1998, after being part of a developing industry that changed the way we eat.

Joe is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jackie; their nine children, Vicki (Steve) Sonka of Cherokee, Iowa, Robin Novotny of South Haven, Mich., Karen Kennedy of Cherokee,

Iowa, Joseph A. (Sheila) Gaskill III of Carol Stream, Ill., Gary (Chris) of Marlton, N.J., Jon Gaskill of Gahanna, Ohio, Kim (Rob) Bordner of Morris, Ill., Susan (Chris) Lindley of Sugar Grove, Ill., and Allyson (Chad) Harrison of Cherokee, Iowa; and 21 grandchildren, Michael (Jill) Sonka, Jason (Keely) Novotny, David (Renee) Sonka, Matthew (Jessica) Sonka, Blake (Lindy) Novotny, Justin (Shannon) Gaskill, Hope (Shawn) Fuller, Amanda (Tony) Evola, Joseph A. Gaskill IV, Jacquelyn Kennedy, Marissa Gaskill, Katherine Kennedy, RJ, Andrew and Tyler Bordner, Megan, Kyle and Sarah Lindley, and Merrick, Griffin and Ely Harrison; 10 great-grandchildren; one sister, Judy Hamlin of Arizona; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Beulah Gaskill; and his sister, Dora Mae Rooks.

Our "lovable" Dad, Joe, enjoyed golfing, fishing, cooking, traveling, playing cards and spending time with friends and family . . . and a good joke.

Visitation will be held at Dunn Family Funeral Home with Crematory, 1801 S Douglas Rd., Oswego, Ill., on Tuesday, May 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 14, at 10 a.m. at St. Anne's Catholic Church, 551 Boulder Hill Pass, Oswego, Ill.

Memorial contributions in Joe's name may be made to the Harrison Boys' Autism Fund, North Star Community Credit Union, 1030 S. Second St., P.O. Box 556, Cherokee IA 51012.

For additional information, (630) 554-3888 or www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.

com.