Joseph passed away on Sunday, December 1, 2019. Joe was born on September 26, 1981, in Peoria, IL. He married Katherine (Heinz) on May 26, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Katie; three children, Layla, Madison, and Sam; his parents, Joel and Mary Kathryn; sister, Angelica Hersemann, sister, Alanna (Matt) Weishaupt, brother, Tyler (Cindy) Boyer; In-laws Mark and Cheri Heinz, Brother in law, Nick (Hayley) Heinz. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Tairae, Domanic, and Katana Hersemann; Annabelle, Aubrey, Oliver and Aberlyn Weishaupt; Brennan and Emelia Boyer. He was born into a very large family, grandparents, Carl and Kathryn Williams, a multitude of aunts and uncles, and hundreds of cousins. The void he has left is immeasurable.

Joe began his career at Walgreens Pharmacy in 2007 as a Staff Pharmacist, moving into the Pharmacy Manager position from 2009-2015. He continued his career at Unity Point Health Methodist/Proctor beginning his role there in November 2015 as the Regional Pharmacy IS Coordinator. Recently, Joe accepted the position of Pharmacy Operations Manager at Unity Point Health.

Joe earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy, PharmD, from Midwestern University (IL), and then went on to earn a Masters of Business Administration from Benedictine University. He was passionate about leadership, and used his vast experience and kind nature to also lead in his philanthropy work.

His first charitable contribution began in 1995 when his family, became hosts for Haitian children in need of heart surgeries. Joe professionally participated as a chair of Unity Point Health Peoria’s 340B Oversight Committee, Unity Point Health Regional P&T Committee Member, Unity Point Health Diversity and Inclusion Committee Member, and ASHP Member.
Volunteering outside of his professional capacity, Joe was involved as an Easter Seals Black & Blue Ball Committee Member, Brimfield 309 School Board Member, St. Jude Fore the Kids Golf Outing Committee Member, Brimfield Biddy Basketball Coach, Co-chair of the Brimfield PTO Auctions, and leader for the Fishing for St. Jude- Team Super Jetty Event.

Joe was an amazing son, brother, husband, and friend. He was also a father unmatched in love and wisdom, teaching his children by example that first and foremost comes family, with education following as a close second. His words and actions have taught not only his children valuable lessons, but have also taught an unimaginable amount of cousins and complete strangers. Joe left everyone he met with something, whether it was a life lesson, a kind word, a new skill, a sarcastic comment, or a laugh. Joe learned to be an avid archery hunter and fisherman from his dad and uncles. He went on to teach many of his cousins and his children these same skills.

Taking his daughter, Layla, hunting; carrying his daughter, Madison, “like a sack of potatoes” to bed; and taking his son, Sam, on a date night to Burnzees are just a few of the simple things he did with his children. There is a list of so many more “little” things he did that are, and will be BIG things in the future for his family. This list of loving deeds is entirely too enormous to mention here.

Joe was known for his hard work, big personality, unrivaled humor, quick wit, and enthusiastic nature. He was a friend to everyone he met and didn’t know a stranger. Always willing and never too busy to lend a hand and help anyone in need, Joe spent an unfathomable amount of time helping his friends, family, and community by doing what he called his “Get Into Heaven Free Work.”

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