Joe E. Wilkinson

   Joe Edward Wilkinson was born on March 24, 1931, at home in West Frankfort, Illinois, to

Charles Herschel Bryan and Mary Eugenia (Buswell) Wilkinson, the ninth of twelve children. He

died on May 15, 2025, at the Rock River Hospice & Home in Sterling, Illinois.

   Joe graduated from Frankfort Community High School and entered the U. S. Army serving in

Korea during the Korean Conflict attaining the rank of Sgt. First Class. He married Sharron

Howell on July 3-4, 1955 (the wedding started before midnight and finished after midnight) in

Corinth, Mississippi. When he was discharged from the service, Joe and Sharron moved to

Rochelle and eventually to Genoa, Illinois, where Joe was in banking, healthcare, and retail. He

was active in the community and received an award for 60 years of service with the Lions Club.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, 6 brothers and 3 sisters. He is survived by his wife,

Sharron; their son Greg; three grandchildren; his sister Mary Louise Drew, and brother Warren

Wilkinson.

   The family thanks the staff at Heartland Hospice and Rock River Hospice & Home for the care

he received in his final days.

   Cremation rites have been entrusted to Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation. At his request,

there will be no memorial service. The family requests those wishing to make a contribution in

his memory to consider the Genoa Lions Club (PO Box 112, Genoa, IL 60135), Heartland Hospice

(2600 DeKalb Ave Suite H, DeKalb IL 60115), or Rock River Hospice & Home (2706 Avenue E,

Sterling, IL 61081).

   Condolences maybe sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com