- Date Of Birth: May 13, 1926
- Date Of Death: January 14, 2016
- State: Illinois
Article In Register Mail Article In Register Mail Article In Register MailBest Cubs Fan I’ve Ever Known Joseph E Morrissey, 89, passed away at 6:32pm Thursday, January 14, 2016 at OSF St Mary’s hospital in Galesburg.
Joseph was born May 13th, 1926 the son of Joseph T. and Alice M. (Nolan) Morrissey. He was born, raised and lived in Galesburg all his life. Joseph married Bonnie Lankford in the mid 1950’s. Then in 1961, he married Sally L. Mathers who proceeded him in death.
Joseph had a brother, John Vincent Morrissey (wife Jody) who proceeded him in death. He had three children; son Joseph Morrissey (wife Linda), who proceeded him in death and two surviving children, son Anthony Morrissey of Chicago, and daughter Carin Franey (husband, Robert) of Galesburg. He has six grandchildren, Nicholas Morrissey, Amanda Morrissey, Chelsea Moberg, Janayle Ahline, Jared and Joey and two great grandchildren, Keegan and Raelynned. He had been a resident of Rosewood Care Center for the last six years.
Joseph worked at the Register Mail from 1948 to 1981 and during this time he was the sports editor for twenty years. He had to retire at a young age because of macular degeneration worsening his eye sight. This didn’t stop him from publishing three books — “On the Rebound,” “Sports Memories” and “The Silver Streaks Years” — all reprising columns, stories and anecdotes from his career with The Register-Mail.
He also mentored many young writers and journalists in his time and got to know many influential sports celebrities – both local and state wide. He was a member of the Galesburg High School Athletics Hall of Fame and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. A Corpus Christi High School graduate, Morrissey attended Knox College and was a Korean War veteran.
Joseph was known for his columns about the Cubs and his kinship with them. His favorite places to hang out when he was younger was the Downtown Lounge, Cherry Street and the Moose. Joe loved sharing his stories of his adventures and misadventures of his career.
