Joseph Vernard Maddox, Jr., age 86, of Palatine, died at home on Saturday Feb. 1. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Janice Corum Maddox, his sons Jack Peirce (Lorene), Dylan Maddox (Diana), and grandchildren, Evan, Ella, and Alex Peirce, Brynn and Finn Maddox. He is also survived by his brother William Clyde Maddox (Judy), seven nieces and nephews and their children.
Joe was born on April 14, 1938, in Montgomery, Alabama. He was the son of Joseph V. Maddox, Sr. and Mary Watson Maddox. Joe graduated from Stark University Academy and Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery. While Joe was in high school the family moved to a farm south of Montgomery near Pike Road, AL. He attended Auburn University and earned a B.S. and M.S. in Entomology. In 1961 he enrolled in the PhD. program at the University of Illinois but after a month in Urbana his Army National Guard unit was mobilized and he spent two years at Fort Polk, LA. He completed his PhD in Entomology and Microbiology at the UI in 1966. Joe was then employed by the Illinois Natural History Survey as a research scientist in insect pathology. In 1971 Joe married Janice and Jackie Peirce. Joe and Janice lived in Ogden, Illinois for 50 years. Joe served on the Ogden Grade School Board and coached Little League baseball. He continually remodeled their old house and built a two story barn. He retired in 1997 as INHS Principal Scientist and Professor of Agricultural Entomology, U.of I. After their retirements Joe and Janice enjoyed traveling and built a home near the Jack’s Fork River in the Missouri Ozarks. Joe loved the outdoors and spent many happy times with his sons and buddies, birding, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. They made many canoe trips to the Quetico National Park in Ontario, Canada. He especially enjoyed taking children on nature walks to discover insects and reptiles. In his retirement Joe developed the hobby of woodworking and built beautiful Shaker style cherry furniture. In 2022 Joe and Janice moved to Palatine, Illinois. Joe was known for his warmth, good humor and hilarious stories about his misadventures. He will be greatly missed and remembered with love. To honor Joe’s wishes no services will be held.
https://www.elegycremation.com/obituary/joseph-maddox
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