Joseph Fogerty

Joseph William Fogerty, 97, of Madison, WI, formerly of Herrin, IL, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2020, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison.  Joe was born in St. Louis, MO, on Jan 11, 1923, to William A. Fogerty and Edna E. Fogerty (Wieland).

Joe graduated in December 1943 from the University of Dayton with a BS in education and spent the next 4 years teaching at South Side Catholic High School in St. Louis.  During the Korean War Joe enlisted in the army for three years, spending two of them as a radar operator in Alaska with an AA battalion.  While stationed at Fort Devens, MA, he met Jean Murphy at a dance hall in Boston.  Dad said he was attracted to her because she was a nice-looking gal but what he really fell for was her distinct Boston accent.  They were married on Oct. 12, 1955, at St. Ann’s Church in Dorchester, MA.  They resided 2 years in St. Louis, than moved to Herrin where Joe began a 35 year career with Allen Industries, an automotive parts manufacturer.   After retiring from Allen’s, Joe and Jean enjoyed travelling.  They visited many places, including Rome and the Vatican; the highlight of which included a papal audience with Pope St. John Paul II, as well as Egypt, Russia, Okinawa, and Germany.  Joe was also an active volunteer with the Herrin Community Pantry and Meals on Wheels.  Herrin was home for 50 years until 2005 when they moved to Madison to be near family.

Joe was a devout Catholic with an unwavering moral compass, an incurable optimist who always found the glass half full, and a wonderful loving father who showed it was possible to be both tough and gentle at the same time.  He loved sports, especially the St. Louis Cardinals and Notre Dame football, science, religion, history and politics.  He was always ready for a good-natured debate on a wide variety of topics and taught his children many life lessons through those discussions.  He loved to read and even tried his hand at writing a book, which he referred to as his “masterpiece”.   Joe enjoyed singing and often created his own lyrics to familiar tunes incorporating the names or nicknames of his grandchildren.  A family favorite is his rendition of Hinky Dinky Parlez Vous.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Jean; parents; a sister, Ruth;  brother, Don; and sister-in-law, Grace.  He is survived by his daughters; Frances (Deane) Mosher, Rita (Geoffrey) Dean, and Theresa (Todd) Goeb, and his sons; David (Sharon), Stephen, James, and Philip, nine grandchildren; Meghan (Bret) Yount, Hillary (Josh) Jacobson, Leanne (Adriel) Apter, Justine (Michael) McGill, Candace Goeb, John Goeb, Christopher Fogerty, Andy (Amanda) Fogerty, Bryan Fogerty, and nine great-grandchildren; Ryker Yount, Conlan Yount, Tyson Yount, Kellum Yount, Addison Jacobson, Hunter Jacobson, Tessa Apter, Julian Apter, and Evelyn McGill; nephew, Vincent Fogerty; niece, Mary Dorothy Fogerty Bliss; great-niece, Carolyn Fogerty; and great-nephew, Christian Fogerty.

A private mass of Christian burial will be held at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Dr., Madison,  on Friday, April 3, 2020.   Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry (svdpmadison.org).

The family wishes to thank the wonderful and caring staff at St. Mary’s Care Center and at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI.