Joe Van Matre, 77, of Olney, died August 18, 2012, at Burgin Manor in Olney  Graveside services at a later date with Reverend David McNabb and Pastor Beau Brown officiating. Cremation rites were accorded.

Mr. Van Matre was born March 14, 1935, in Olney, the son of Ralph and Elizabeth (Boone) Van Matre. Joe graduated from East Richland High School in 1953. He never married. Joe loved the family reunions and particular the Boone reunions in Pullman, Washington.

Joe was employed by the State of Illinois Department of Agriculture for 25 years in Springfield, Illinois. He was a groundskeeper at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Joe was a member of Elm Street Christian Church. He loved watching the Fighting Illini and the Chicago Cubs and Bears.

Mr. Van Matre is survived by; sister, Louise Turpin and her husband Jim of Champaign, Illinois; brother, Frank Van Matre and wife Pat of Olney, Illinois; brother-in-law John Shafer of Olney, Illinois; niece Myrline Bower and family of Olney, Illinois; niece Chris Lukeman and husband Jim and family of Champaign, Illinois; niece Jayne DeLuce and husband Joe and family of Champaign, Illinois; nephew Dan Turpin and family of Glenview, Illinois; niece Cyndee Berger and husband Chris and family of Chatham, Illinois; nephew David Van Matre and family of Tacoma, WA; nephew Jeff Van Matre and wife Marie and family of Munster, Indiana; nephew Richard Shafer and wife Kathy and family of Muncie, Indiana; nephew Steve Shafer of Olney, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Elizabeth Van Matre, sister Nan Shafer and sister Helen Holtz and husband Myrl.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) ~ August 20, 2012