Joseph R. Panier Jr., 96, of Peoria, Ariz., formerly of Granville and Mark, died Feb. 22, 2020. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Joe was born in Mark, Ill. on September 30, 1923 to Joseph and Rose (Monier) Panier, Sr.
He grew up in Mark and graduated from Hopkins Township High School in 1941. He played on the High School Basketball Team. In 1943 he enlisted in the Army to serve in World War II, and before leaving he married his high school sweetheart, Jean Harker on Dec. 20, 1943. His armed forces service took him to England, France and Germany. When he returned from the service in 1945, he worked as a carpenter in the local area for 28 years. In 1974, he was elected Putnam County Clerk, where he served for 13 years prior to retiring,
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church for over 65 years, serving as choir director & Sunday school teacher, and member of the church board for over 40 years.
He loved sports of all kinds, but especially loved softball and played on a local league for many years.
His love of music included being in the Ottawa, Peru and Princeton barbershop groups for 25 years. He participated with the Putnam County Educational Foundation for 10 years, which put on musicals every year to benefit the local high school. He also directed the Putnam County Chorus.
He volunteered his time in the Granville School Board, the Boy Scout Program and was a coach for the Granville Little League. He was also President of the Hopkins Alumni Association for 20 years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 180. With his carpentry experience, he helped build a home for Habitat for Humanity in Granville and spent a week in Louisiana with a group of volunteers from Granville, re-building homes after Hurricane Katrina.
In 2012 Joe was in a Southwest Airlines TV commercial highlighting Southwest's support of the Honor Flights for military veterans to Washington, D.C.
In 2017 Joe and Jean moved from Granville to Sun City West, Ariz. to be near their family.
He is survived by his wife Jean of 76 years; his daughters Jan (Ted) Querciagrossa and Joyce Zellmer, all of Peoria, Ariz.; his son James (Jennifer) Panier of Plainfield; four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, one brother and his son-in-law, Ron Zellmer.
Memorials may be directed to the Putnam County Community Center, 128 First Street, PO Box 208, Standard, IL 61363.