Obituary of Joseph Engelman

Joseph Engelman of Channahon, passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Hinsdale Hospital, at the age of 54. He was born on October 29, 1970, in Chicago, the son of Thomas and Catherine Engelman.

He grew up in Bolingbrook, IL, where he found a strong life-long group of neighborhood friends. As an adult, he moved to Ottawa, IL, where he lived with his grandparents, Jerry and Bernice, to care for them as they aged. He built a life for himself there working at Zellers Inn and eventually Rush Truck Centers in Ottawa. He was a regular fixture at Berta's Tap, where he was known fondly as "Big Joe".

Eventually he moved to Channahon to be closer to family and where he retired from Rush Truck Centers in Joliet.

Joe was a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan. He had a huge heart and an even bigger personality. You could find him at every one of his nephew Cameron's athletic events as his biggest cheerleader.

Nothing was more important to him than family. His greatest joy was time spent with his nieces, nephews, his son Mark, and grandson Max

Joseph is survived by his son, Mark (Amanda) Murphy; grandson, Max Murphy; his mother, Catherine L. Engelman; his siblings, Jason (Karri Algana) Engelman and Julie (Alex) Paramo; and nieces and nephews that he loved like his own, Cameron and Jace Thwaites, Austin Radecki, Hayley and Allison Engelman, and Ben Algana, and Nick Niemann.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas H. Engelman; and grandparents, Jerry and Bernice Diederich, and Ernest and Anna Mae Engelman.

Memorial Gathering for Joseph Engelman will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd., Joliet, 60431, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of his service beginning at 2:00 p.m.  As it was his request, cremation rites have been accorded.

For more information, please visit his memorial tribute page at www.fredcdames.com where you can leave an online condolence or share a favorite memory.