Joe Whitmore

Joseph "Joe" Lee Whitmore, 79, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 15, 1938, in St. Louis, son of John and Marie Clark Whitmore. He and Marilyn Sperling were married June 25, 1988.

Joe was a veteran of the Vietnam War, having served in the U.S. Army from July 23, 1962, to July 19, 1965, when he was honorably discharged.

In 1989, he and Marilyn relocated to Jackson from Illinois. He worked at Lee Rowan for 12 years, retiring in 2003.

He was a former member of the Cape Girardeau Eagles Lodge and was a current member of the Elks Lodge in Cape Girardeau and the Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post in Jackson.

He was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson.

Joe was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and Kansas City Chiefs fan.

He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 30 years, Marilyn Whitmore; a daughter, Delores Turner of Chaffee, Missouri; five stepchildren, Diana (Tad) Robinson of Nashville, Georgia, Theresa (David) Hopkins of Jackson, Robin (Chris) Miller of Annapolis, Missouri, and John (Vicki) McLemore and Joe (Jennifer) McLemore, both of Cape Girardeau; a special granddaughter, Mindy Welker of New York, and six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are a sister, Delores Coleman of Lafayette, Indiana; a brother-in-law, Tom (Marianne) Sperling of Jackson; and two sisters-in-law, Frances (Leon) Wessel of Ranson, West Virginia, and Sandra (the late Jerry) Whitmore of Chaffee.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and one sister.

As per his request, there will be no service.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the American Lung Association or Emanuel United Church of Christ.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.