Obituaries
Peoria- Howard J. Joe Wiles, age 77, of Peoria passed away at 11:25 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center. Howard was born Dec. 6, 1937, in Peoria to Howard Benjamin and Mary Rice Wiles. He married Sonya Freeberg on April 29, 1961, at St. Marys Cathedral in Peoria. Sonya preceded him in death on June 12, 2009. Surviving are three sons, Jim (Anne) of Rochester, Mich., Tim (Marie) of Schenectady, N.Y., and Dave (Kerri) of Dunlap; three grandsons, Joe, Kevin, and Ben Wiles; four granddaughters, Alison, Carrie, Josie, and Meghan Wiles; one brother, Mike Wiles of Peoria; four sisters, Mary (Frank) Karpowicz of Huntley, Iris (George) Rothan of Peoria, Sue (Tom) Porritt of Danville, and Nell (John Bretzlauf) Schatz of Palatine. Howard was preceded in death by one brother-in-law, David Schatz; and one sister-in-law, Donna Wiles. Howard was educated at St. Patrick and St. Bernard Schools and was a member of the Spalding Institute class of 1955. He earned his BS in Accounting and MBA degrees at Bradley University and was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant. He held various accounting and auditing positions at public and private firms, and completed his career with 27 years of service in the corporate office of OSF Healthcare System, founding the Systems Organizational Ethics and Compliance Division, and retiring in 2007 as the Systems Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer. He was a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Illinois CPA Society. For more than 30 years Howard taught undergraduate Accounting and Finance courses as an adjunct at several colleges and universities, including Bradley and Illinois Central College. He derived much satisfaction from helping others improve their professional qualifications. He also served his parish, St. Philomena, as treasurer and auditor for many years. He was a past member of the Parish Council, a lifetime member of the parish Mens Club, and a lifetime honorary member of the Knights of Columbus Spalding Council 427. Howard received many gifts from a generous God, including a loving and supportive immediate and extended family, his faith, and parochial education. He had the opportunity to serve our nation in military uniform. Other gifts included the professional skepticism needed by an auditor, and the patience of a diehard Cub fan. More enjoyment was provided by participation in family activities and the activities of children and grandchildren, exciting baseball seasons that always seemed to end too soon and winter months with lots of good books (usually history and/or biographies). Another gift from God was the opportunity to participate for many years in OSF Healthcares healing ministry of Jesus Christ. And there was the lifelong friendship of his classmate, Jim Roach. But Gods greatest gift to Howard was his 48 year marriage to Sonya. Visitation will be held on Sunday Nov. 29, 2015, between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Wright Salmon Mortuary. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 4:45 p.m. An additional visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Philomena Catholic Church. Fr. David Richardson will officiate and burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in Howards memory may be made to the OSF Foundation. Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com