Joseph Hickory

Throughout his rich and rewarding life, Joseph Hickory brought such happiness to those around him. He was a hardworking man who accomplished so much of which to be proud, yet there was no greater joy in his life than being surrounded by his beloved grandchildren. Joe shared much of his life’s journey with the wife he cherished and with whom he experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer. As his friends and family can attest, he had a spirit of adventure coupled with a fearless zest for life that made him so much fun to be around. Joe will be dearly missed while his memory is forever cherished.

The decade of the 1930s was very much defined by the Great Depression. With an unemployment rate that soared to over 25 percent, jobs became hard to come by, leaving people to do whatever they could to make ends meet. There were events to celebrate, however, such as the completion of both the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building while the streets of New York City were dressed in their best with the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was during this eventful time that a young couple from Kankakee, Illinois, was filled with great joy as they welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on August 24, 1937. Joseph Z. was one of three children born to his parents, Levi and Maria Hickory, and he was raised in the family home in Herscher alongside his siblings, Mardelle and Doreen.

In many ways Joe experienced a childhood that was a reflection of his generation. His parents ran a gas station while Joe and his sisters attended local schools. Joe liked to go fishing in his spare time. As he became a young adult he enjoyed shooting pool and playing Euchre with his uncle.

Shortly after graduating from high school in 1957, Joe took a job with Armstrong World Industries where he remained until retiring in 1985. He also spent fifteen years working for Tile by Lonnie and owned Bradley Liquors for approximately five years. Joe officially retired in 2001.

Not to be forgotten during his years as a young man was Joe’s introduction to the young woman of his dreams. Her name was Sandra Dufrain, and they met at Stefani’s Auto Sales when she was making her car payment. The rest is history as they say, and after dating for a time the couple found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to establish a life together, Joe and Sandra became husband and wife on September 3, 1960, at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church in Kankakee.

Together Joe and Sandra were blessed with two wonderful children, Kevin and Kim. When their children were younger they loved taking them camping every weekend. As a huge NASCAR fan, Joe enjoyed sharing this passion with his son, and together they attended an unforgettable NASCAR race in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he cheered on his favorite drivers, Mark Martin and Tony Stewart. Christmas Day was always a time that Joe looked forward to as it was a day to be surrounded by his family that grew to include his four grandchildren, Kristen, Ryan, Jessica, and Teage, and his six great-grandchildren, Faith, Preston, Liam, Ethan, Maya, and Sophia.

Along his life’s journey Joe was a man of many interests. With a love for racing he owned and drove his own stock car during his early twenties. He liked to travel, which most often included trips to Branson and Nashville. Around the house Joe enjoyed gardening, playing cards, and woodworking, and when relaxing with the television he liked watching Family Feud, Golden Girls, and Dancing with the Stars. A creature of habit, he usually went to Jaffe’s Drug Store for his daily coffee.

A fun-loving, adventurous, and lively man, Joseph Hickory was an extraordinary person to know and love. He never hesitated to give a helping hand, lend a tool, or offer his expertise on a remodeling project, although these things were sometimes accompanied by some mumbling and grumbling. Joe was never one to worry about building wealth, rather, he focused his time on being with his loved ones as often as he could. Life will never be the same without Joe here, but his timeless legacy will be proudly carried on by those who follow him.

Joseph Z. Hickory, of Bradley, IL, died on Monday, December 30, 2013, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, IL. Joe’s family includes his wife, Sandra of Bradley; son, Kevin (Kennilyn) Hickory of Momence, IL; grandchildren, Kristin (Brandon) Meents, Ryan (Susan Patel) Hickory, Jessica Hickory, and Teage (Garrett Drinnon) Collett; great-grandchildren, Faith Hickory, Preston Meents, Liam Hickory, Ethan Patel, and Maya Patel; a very special little girl, Sophia Zimbauer; sisters Mardelle Eades of Clifton, IL and Doreen Boudreau of Bradley, IL; mother-in-law, Melba Dufrain of Bradley, IL; and many nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberly Hickory; parents; father-in-law, Harding Dufrain; brothers-in-law, Ray Eades and Bill Boudreau; and sister-in-law, Sherry Morgan. A time of gathering will take place on Sunday, January 5, 2014, from 2-7 p.m. at Schreffler Life Story Funeral Homes Bourbonnais Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 6, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials to the family’s wishes would be appreciated. To share a memory, upload a photo, or to sign Joe’s guestbook please visit www.schrefflerfuneralhome.com.