Joe Sherrock

Eugene Joseph (Joe) Sherrock Jr.

1/7/59-5/1/23

On May 1st, Joe Sherrock, beloved husband, son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away suddenly from a heart attack.

Joe spent the first part of his life in Williamsville, a small town in central Illinois where he grew up and forged friendships that have lasted to this day. His friendly, easy-going manner and 6'3" beanpole profile made him popular on the basketball court and off, when he was voted Prom King his senior year. He chose to stay in that town, close to his family, and make a family of his own. He worked as a coal miner and later as a surgical technician while he raised four children with his first wife, Julie. He taught his kids how to fish, how to shoot, how to play baseball, how to work hard, and to never do anything "half-a**ed". Later, circumstances brought the family to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where Joe met his wife Liz and added two more children to his "weird herd", as he liked to say. During his time in Oklahoma, he and Liz raised their two sets of kids together with kindness and love. Boating was one of his favorite family activities, and he never missed an opportunity to whip his kids across the water on an innertube. He volunteered weekly at Agape, a local soup kitchen, and became a friendly face to all who visited there. He easily created an entire new cadre of close friends in Bartlesville who surely can't imagine a time before they knew Joe and were touched by his light.

Joe had a warmth and kindness that was palpable to anyone in his presence. When he smiled at you, it felt as if the world was smiling at you. When he laughed, which was often, he laughed with his whole body, and you could feel the world shake with laughter too. He never met a stranger who wasn't a potential friend. For his family, children and grandchildren, Papa Joe was the bright shining star that we orbited around. He made every person that he knew feel like they were uniquely special to him.

His green thumb and flourishing garden were a testament to his ability to bring life to everything that he touched. To sit at his table was to know true hospitality and enjoy fellowship over a lovingly crafted meal. Joe enjoyed cooking for his friends and family above all. Whether it was feeding the hungry at a soup kitchen or bringing in food for everyone at Liz's office, it was his favorite way to express his love. All who have tasted that love have been fortified by it.

We all love you so much, Dad. We will miss the spark that was in your blue eyes. We will miss the bear hugs you gave that had room for the whole world. We will live by your example and honor your memory by doing our best to bring light into this world every day, the way you did.

Celebration of Life services will be held for Joe on:

May 26th at 1pm at Bartlesville First Church, 4715 SE Price Road, Bartlesville OK 74006

and

June 17th from 12-3pm at Williamsville Community Center, 141 W Main Street, Williamsville IL 62693

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the mission fund at First Church Bartlesville or the Joe Sherrock Memorial Fund at Agape Missions PO Box 1085 Bartlesville, OK 74005