Joseph J. Ginejko

Joseph James Ginejko, 90, born at his parent’s home on Bluff Street in Joliet, Illinois on April 18th, 1925, died peacefully in his home in Plainfield, Illinois on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016.

Joseph attended Holy Cross grade school in Joliet, from where he received a scholarship to Joliet Catholic High School.  After graduation, Joseph proudly served in the US Navy 13th Battalion as a SeaBee, Seaman First Class, on Tinian and Okinawa in the Pacific theater of WWII.  Upon his return, Joseph graduated from Joliet Junior College, and then worked at Ruberoid/GAF.  He was active in multiple softball, bowling and golf leagues.  He was a life long member of Holy Cross Church as a Parish Board Member, Lecturer and Eucharistic Minister. Joseph was also a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a Plainfield Police Pension Board member for 19 years. He enjoyed traveling the world and gardening.  Joseph performed in Soldier Field with the Sokols at the 1932 Chicago World’s Fair, and was always proud of his Polish Szlachta family heritage.

Joseph is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mary Louise “Bonnie;” his two sons, Dr. Joseph John (Timothy) Ginejko of California with granddaughters Emily Anne and Sophia Catherine; and son James L. Ginejko of Plainfield.  He is also survived by his sister Dolores (William) Benedict, and multiple nieces and nephews.

Joseph is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Emily Ginejko; and sisters Francis (Perry) Coder, Lillian (George) Sweeney/(Cliff) Heald, Irene (Dr. Roy) Greer, and Bernice “Dickie” (John) Smeets and multiple nieces and nephews.

The funeral mass and burial were performed at Holy Cross Catholic Church and Cemetery following a private visitation on March 30th.