Joseph Koob

Joseph was born on May 14, 1953 to Hubert “Bud” and Doris (Boemmel) Koob. He grew up as the second oldest of four brothers in Morton Grove, Illinois. As a child, Joseph experienced and developed the love of the natural world as a scout and in family camping trips to the American west. In adolescence he considered going into the priesthood and attended St. Henry’s Preparatory Seminary before graduating from Niles North High School.

He continued his seminarian studies at Lewis College before moving on to Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, where he also worked as a community organizer. In his later twenties, Joseph took a formative trip to Europe, where he met his first wife, Greta. Though their marriage was brief, they settled in Denmark where he began work as a forester, a profession he identified with for the rest of his life. It was in Denmark in 1983 where he met his second wife, Janet (Jenny) Howard. Together they moved to Wisconsin where Joseph studied forestry at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and had two daughters, Anna and Lisa. Joseph and Jenny divorced in 1987. In 1989, JoAnne, Joseph’s third daughter, was born to him and Diane Martin. After living in Wisconsin for several decades, Joseph moved to the Upper Peninsula, a place he cherished for its natural beauty. His affection for this area began during childhood visits to his grandmother’s family in Republic.

Joseph loved his many friends and family members. He was an eager conversationalist and a seeker of community, which he found through church and faith, poetry, forestry, activism, his men’s group, and various other learning and arts communities. Those who have spent time with Joseph (never “Joe”ù) would be familiar with his propensity for joy, love for intellectual discussion and recitation, and dislike of superficiality.

He is preceded in death by his father and younger brother, Richard Koob (Pat) of Morton Grove. He is survived by his mother, Doris Koob, of Sun City, Arizona, three daughters, Anna Koob (Zach Hanes), Lisa Koob (Kaisang Tenzin), and JoAnne Martin-Koob (Patrick Smyczek), all of Madison, Wisconsin, as well as four grandsons: George Hanes, Simon Hanes, Kunga Tenzin, and Oliver Smyczek, and two brothers: Michael Koob (Sherie) of Frederick, Maryland and Thomas Koob (Laura) of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

A brief visitation will be held at 1pm on Friday, January 26 at Sacred Heart Church in Champion, followed by a memorial mass at 1:30 pm. A catered lunch will follow the mass.

In lieu of flowers, please do something spontaneously generous for someone else in his memory.

Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting Joseph’s family where memories and condolences can be shared at canalefuneral.com