Joel B. Franklin

Age 66 of Morris, Illinois, died Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

Born July 20, 1956 in Coffeyville, Kansas, Joel Brian was a son of Gene and Hermione (Stevenson) Franklin. He was raised in Mazon, Illinois, graduated from MVK High School in 1974, and completed his Bachelor's Degree in Business at Illinois State University in 1989. Joel began his career as an electrical maintenance supervisor at LaSalle Generation Station and later Exelon Generation Station in Morris until 2005.

He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Morris American Legion Post 294. Joel also held membership at the Morris Country Club where he loved to play golf, known as the "best one legged golfer in Grundy County". He was an avid flat track motorcycle racer and continued to race even after he had his accident in 1974. Joel had a regular card game that he rarely missed, and he enjoyed playing trivia and was Smarter Than A Fifth Grader on the Nintendo DS. He was a great fan of the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Raiders, and the Ohio State Buckeyes, though he also cheered on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in honor of his wife. Joel was also a proud sports-dad, following his sons' baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and wrestling teams, especially the Morris Redskins and Blackburn Beavers for Chris and the Stillwater Ponies for Jon.

Joel was proud to be an organ donor and would have been pleased to know that he was able to contribute towards helping others by participating in the Gift of Hope program.

Survivors include his wife, Lee Ann (Tabler) Franklin, whom he married on February 22, 1991; two sons: Chris (Tammy) Franklin of Knoxville, Tennessee and Jon (Patricia) Franklin of Arlington, Virginia; two grandsons: Cole and Luke Franklin of Knoxville, Tennessee; two brothers: James (Sonia) Franklin of Bangor, Maine and John (Shirley Sinclair) Franklin of Morris; mother-in-law: Ramona Tabler of Morris; brothers-in-law: Billy (Betty) Tabler of Diamond, Illinois and James E. (Pam) Tabler of Joliet, Illinois; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joel was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters: Julie (Merle) Leach and Jeanne (Walt) Lobb, and one sister in infancy, Joyce Franklin; and father-in-law, Charles William Tabler.

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at Reeves Funeral Home, 408 East Washington Street (one block East of Illinois Route 47), in Morris from 2:00 p.m. until closing service at 6:00 p.m.

In the spirit of Joel's love of sports, those able to attend are encouraged to wear their favorite sports attire.

Cremation rites will be accorded following services.

Preferred memorials may be made in Joel's memory as gifts to the Morris YMCA, We Care of Grundy County, or to Gift of Hope.

Family and friends are encouraged to sign the online guest book, upload photographs, and share Joel's memorial page via social media.

Funeral services and cremation arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Homes and Crematory (815) 942-2500.