Joseph Keating Obituary

He pinched my cheeks at the age of 3, but then I only came up to his knee.



He pinched my cheeks at the age of 10, and I thought that was great way back then.



He pinched my cheeks at the age of 15, I looked around hopefully not to be seen.



He pinched them again at the age of 30, and at that time I thought it was dirty!



When 40 came, he pinched my cheeks the same.



Now at the age of 50 and he is not here, I'd give anything for that pinch of the year!



We love you, Joe

Cissy Bryan and family

Happy Fathers Day Dad, What can I say to you that I don’t say to you every day? That, I miss you, that I love you. If only I had, just a couple more minutes with you, if only I could learn a little bit more from you. If only I knew how hard this was going to be.....? From this experience, I learned that you cannot go back and retrieve time lost. I have learned to live every day with no regrets. I will take the ideals that you instilled in me, to live with passion, motivation and joy. I want you to know Dad that I talk to god and I close my eyes and say, “thanks dad for all the joy you gave me.” I want you to know I will cherish every Fathers Day with more intensity than I ever have. I will look at the world in a different way. I will appreciate and hold on to the people you left behind to love me. I want to thank you for giving me a wonderful mom and great brothers and sisters to love me. I will hold my head high and continue to self evaluate myself and continue to strive to be the person I need to be. All I ask from you is to stop by soon and let me know you never left my side. Missing you lots, your daughter Karen

Dad,

Happy Birthday to you.........Today is your birthday and I want to give you a hug,

I miss you more and more every day.

I miss your inspiration, your enthusiasm, and most of all your love for me.I want to thank you for giving me courage, courage to go on and be strong, and love life every minute of every day.. I want to thank you for always believeing in me. Dad, God gave me the greatest blessing when he made my father you.

I love you Dad,

Karen Keating

Dear Keating Family,

May your wonderful memories of Joe help you all through this sad time. He is truly missed by all who knew him.

Donna and Ziggy Walag

It took a while for me get up the courage to write this without crying. Mya and I wish we could have been there to help in anyway possible, just like you all were there for our family. Mr. Keating was a wonderful man inside and out and will be greatly missed by so many people.

Dear Keating Family & Dear Joe, Our sincerest Sympathy. We regret we were not able to attend the services; however, the "EBC-A Team" was there in our place. Our thoughts and hearts were with you then, and still are.....

I repeat what has been stated in the guest book, for you Joe will be missed dearly. "Joe your seat at the EBC can never be filled.” Rest in peace.

Dear Keating Family

Joe will be missed by ALL ...just as he was loved by ALL

I was with him in my thoughts the three days of sorrow

No more Bad..Bad LeRoy Brown Dance

Stay in Touch

Joan Huart xox

Dear Keatings.

Everyone thankyou for the memories in life with Mr. Keating, Uncle Joe you will be so dearly missed. You raised your family with such grace. You gave us direction, you helped us, you gave us your hugs, and you taught us all. And for that I am so grateful. We are all so lucky to be able to call you family. Our families shared a fortunate life together. You sir will never be far from our hearts. We cried, we laughed, and we loved in life. Everyone my thoughts and prayers continue through out my days. I love you all so much.

I remember your dad and my brother Ray Coleman talking and laughing on the front sidewalk. They were good friends as well as business partners.

Jerry, Joey,Kathy,Kevin,Karen,Kritsin & Keith

We are home... And as we turned on the computer to catch-up, this page appeared! Yes it was the last place we all were on Christmas Eve...

May we express to all of you how important it was and how happy we were to help bring "Big Joe" home. This could only be described as a week suspended in time. A sad, but truly beautiful family and friends time. And as is usual and customary with the Keatings there was much laughter among the tears. Big Joe taught you and us all how to laugh and enjoy what is good!

The frienship, support and love Joe and you Jerry, provided Tab & I as we began and continued our own lives journey will always be cherished. Joe will always be a guidepost for the two of us(the most positive person we have ever known). Joey,Kathy,Kevin,Karen,Kristin and Keith, you already know each one of you is like another brother and sister to us. (so much for the laughter) We love you all>

The sun is shining-See you all soon

To Jerry and all the Keating family- So sorry to hear of Joe's passing. Last saw Joe at a neighborhood reunion back in 1995, and was pleased to see he was still the "lively" guy we all remembered from our days around 63rd and Sacramento - Norma, Murphy, Bill & Diane Kenney, Joan and Bob Casey, Tony and Rita Kozlowski - and more. Great to know he had such a successful career and a big, loving family - I feel so fortunate to have had him as part of my life - those many years ago.

You are in my thoughts and prayers - Carole Clancey Cotter

Dear Jerry, Joey, Kathy, Kevin, Karen, Kristen, and Keith:

Many of my favorite memories of my childhood involve spending time with each of you. Whenever I reminisce about summers and holidays in Powers Lake, it always brings a warm feeling to my heart and a smile to my face.



Your father was a wonderful man. I always looked at him with a certain amount of awe. He lived his life with so much zest, that anybody who ever met him could not become effected by his exuberance. He was powerful, but very kind hearted and never intimidating. Ambitious and driven, yet he knew when to call it quits for the day and enjoy himself. As a child, I never appreciated just how difficult that was; watching Uncle Joe, it seamed so easy. His very presence commanded attention, but not because he was egotistical or self-centered. Those are words that I would never use to describe him. Confident, passionate, intelligent, warm and welcoming; to me, that’s who Uncle Joe was. If I could ask Uncle Joe one last thing, it would be how he did that. It’s a talent that few people ever master, yet to Uncle Joe, it seemed so natural. I can not picture his face without seeing a smile on it. Well, except for when I was ten and decided to watch TV in his bedroom, not realizing the volume was turned up too loud. How was I to know that he was shaving in his bathroom? I take back what I said about him not being intimidating. Anyway, I will miss Uncle Joe.



I want each of you to know that every one of you has impacted my life in some form or another. For that, I will always be grateful beyond words. I can not even begin to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. You are all in mine and my family’s heart and prayers.



With much sympathy and love,





Michael, Patty, and Amanda

To all of the Keating family,

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this trying time.

Dear Keatings,

It truly saddened me to hear of Joe's passing. Although I only worked at your company for a year, I truly enjoyed everyone at Keating Development and Joe always made me feel welcome. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Regards,

To the Keating family,



Thinking of you and of course Joe during this difficult time. In my memories I can still here Joe's laughter from the many parties I was lucky enough to be helping with.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Jerry and Family,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this most difficult time. It has been my pleasure to know Joe, even though most of it was on professional terms. He was one of my favorite patients! With much sympathy and love to you,

Our deepest sympathy during this toughest of time to the entire Keating Family. Joe's kindness, laugh, and BIG heart will be missed by all that had a chance to know him. To all the Keating Kids, your friendship to me and my entire family is something each one of us treasure. We regret not being able to attend the services. Our thoughts and prayers are with each one of you.

With Much Love.

The Kolovos Family

Marlilyn, Diana&Rich, Susan&Marty, Linda and Michael&Heather

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you, thank you for always warmly welcoming me into your home, I will be missing Mr. Keating very much, and I have many fond memories.

Much love,

Myra

Keating Family-

Mom and I are so sorry to hear of your loss. Your dad was always friendly and kind to our family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your at this difficult time. The Powers Lake community won't be the same.

Marilyn and Diana Kolovos

Dear Keatings, our throughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. May the wonderful memories you have help you through the next few days. While he is gone, he is certainly not forgotten. May God bless all of you and hold you in the palm of His hand.

Love, Kim's Uncle and Aunt

Jerry and Family,

Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss. I am so sorry that I can not be with you at this time of sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

The wonderful impact that Joe had on my life is impossible to describe. All of us that have known him are much richer for it. The twinkle in his eye, the warm smile and his eternal optimism have touched everyone that new him. I have always thought of you as my “second” family. This is in no small part due to your father. It is indeed an honor and privilege to be able to call him a friend.

May all of us live life as fully!

Sincerely yours,

Jim Wells

My Dear Joey,

I'll miss you so much. Just the very thought of you puts a smile on my face. The bar at East Bank will never be the same. My prayers and thougths our with your beautiful family.

Keating Family,



We are so sorry to hear of your loss. We had the opportunity to meet/see Mr. Keating at the lake house a couple of times and he was great. We were very glad to have the chance. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.



The Jedrzejewski's (Jen Clark/Mitch Adams' Family)

To the entire Keating family, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. What a Christams to remember! May Joe rest in eternal peace. He will be with you always in spirit. With love, the Galvan family

JOE & I WENT TO LINDBLOOM TOGETHER>

SO VERY SORRY TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING. MAY HE NOW REST IN PEACE.

THOUGH IT IS VERY HARD TO LOSE YOUR DEAR HUSBAND & FATHER TRY TO REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD TIMES THAT WERE HAD IN THE PAST.

AGAIN SO VERY SORRY TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING.

To the Keating Family:

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.

Always keep the special memories of your husband/dad in your hearts.

In Sympathy,

Kathy and Don Gottschlich

We had always heard a lot about Joe through his children……..and then we met him.

Everything they had told us about him was true……even more so. It was clear to us how very much he loved his family, friends, and especially life. It was also clear how very much everyone loved him.

We love you guys. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time.

Whenever you think of Joe, think of all of the special memories of all the special moments he shared with all of you, and may you feel comfort and peace in always having those memories close in heart.

Bill, Trudy, Nathan, Kelley and Katie

Jerry and all of your wonderful Family. We are with you in spirit and praying for you. God Bless you all and may he be with you and guide you over the next days. Our love and condolences, Howie and Kay

Our thoughts and prayers are with your wonderful family! Deepest sympathies. Scott & Sandy Smith

To Joe Keating's family,

Joe will be missed sooo very much by everyone he touched in his life. He brought joy and laughter to many, including being a great friend to my late husband, Smitty (Stanley Smith), and myself. Thank you Joe for being you!!



Pat Smith

To the Keating Family:



Our condolences to all of you. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

To the Family of Joe Keating - we would like to extend to you our sympathy - Joe was a great friend and business associate. He will be missed.

Sincere Sympathy,

Tony Santucci

Dearest Keating Family, I don't know how we can miss someone who is still so near to hearts(but we do). You all are in our in thoughts and prayers.

To the Keatings

Big Joe's laugh is as distinguishable as his love he instilled in all of you. His upbeat attitude and ability to be successful in business and raising a great family should be a inspiration to all who knew him. The Moore family will always be indebted to him for the friendships we have with all the Keating kids and of course Jerry. Our families have shared so many great events in all our lives. We have celebrated many Christmas Holidays together and are sure to do many more with both our Father's looking proudly down on all of us. I can't tell you all how much we love you guys. God Bless you all

Danny, Glenda and Aidan Moore

I met & began representing Joe in 1975. A gregarious,charming man, of great skill. I recall that our initial work together involved property in Arlington Heights, a not so simple development plan created by Joe evolved. Goodbye Dear Joe. Howard Borde & Vivian Wong

Dear entire Keating family,

My kids woke us up at 6:00 this Christmas morning to open their gifts. I saw smiles and laughter on their faces, and couldn't help but think of your Christmas, smiling and laughing one minute and sadness and hurt the next. Maybe God wanted to take Uncle Joe at this time so his memories could be combined with happiness.

He always treated Greg and I with respect, like equals. I truly loved that man, I can't tell you how much we will miss him. All our love, Greg, Maureen, Kevin, Kyle and Dylan.

Dear Jerry & Family

You are in our thoughts and prayers. He will be missed, now and always!

Love, Jennifer(Pfieffer) and Family

To Joe's Family, with many fond memories of shared vacations, Saturday night tennis and life at Powers Lake. We'll miss good times with Joe.

To Jerry, and the extended family of

Joseph M. Keating, Sr.

You ALWAYS saw a smile on his face. Our late Dad loved Joe Keating from the moment they moved into Clarendon Hills. He was South Side Irish, and was married to a cute little gal named O'Brien...it doesn't get any better.

They lived across the street from us on Prospect Avenue for years, and to this day I'm not sure what their address number was..."it was just Keating's house"

As the eldest of the 11 Shean children (nine are living), I watched their family grow, and it reminded me so much of ours.

It was such a wonderful time and place to grow up, and see familiar faces when you came home from college. You'd look out the window and up would drive Joe in his truck, and all the little Keating kids would run out a hug him.

Here was this big man, surrounded by these little people, who understood what his love meant.

Forty years later, I still remember that scene as if it were yesterday. I will never forget the person who had that great smile and big heart.

God brought Joe home for Christmas, but he will remain in our prayers well into the New Year.

Our deepest sympathies to all of the Keatings on this tragic loss.



John and Donna Shean

Erin;Shannon;Sean;Megan;Brendan and Quinn...

Dear Keating Family,



In honoring the beautiful memories, celebrating Big Joe's gracious spirit and remembering a wonderful life. Please accept our deepest sympathy.



Love to all, Al & Chelle

Joe was a true patriarch of not only a family but a business that has touched so many lives. His youthful vigor for life was evident every time he entered a room. His love and devotion to his family was always visible in the gleam in his eyes when he talked about his family. How very proud he was of Jerry and his six children. Joe always loved a good party but the ones with his family were the ones of all the story telling. He has left a legacy that will live on for a very long time. My heartfelt sympathy goes to the one he has left behind, and I celebrate his extraordinary life.

What wonderful memories we have of the Keating family as neighbors at Powers Lake. My prayers are with you all at this time. Bonnie Lachner

My dear friend, Jerry,

From the very first time we saw Joe until the last time I saw him at your

gorgeous new home on Powers Lake, he was always a handsome charmer that never changed. There was something about him that gave us all

a sense of pride just knowing him. He never gave up and although

there were some tough times, he managed to go forward for his

Jerry & family he was so proud of. There were too many good times to mention, but it was always party time for Joe. He was happy when others were happy. You could see it in his smile. There is so much to remember about Joe, but what stands out most was his devotion to loved ones, his gentle kindness & unselfish generosity.

We all loved him and we'll miss him, but will never forget his positive

attitude and his courageous battle with cancer. He was truly an inspiration and my hero.

I'm thankful for the unforgettable memories. They will live on in my

heart.

Jerry, you're such a special friend and part of our family, you've always been there for me--now I want to be there for you.

My heartfelt sympathy to all of you.

Love you, my friend.

Dear Jerry & Cousins:

Joe's warmth, generosity, and fun loving spirit will always be remembered. Our prayers are with you all.

Bob & Michelle & family

My deepest sympathy to Joe Keating's family. "He is another rose in God's garden" and will be missed by all his Lindblom High School classmates. I will keep him and his family in my prayers. A classmate - Jeannine

Joey & the Rest of Joe's Family,



I know how much you will miss him. His presence was always a pleasure to everyone.



Dave

Joe was a classmate of mine at Lindblom Tech High School. I remember his beautiful smile and his popularity. My condolences to his family.

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE ENTIRE KEATING FAMILY, WE HAVE WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF THE MANY GOOD TIMES WE HAVE HAD WITH JOE, OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.

Our sincerest Sympathy to the entire

Keating family. We regret not being able to

attend the servicees. Our thoughts and hearts

will be with you.....

Joe: You will always be my best friend. I enjoyed listening to your stories about your life, family and business. You will be missed every day at the EBC.

We really enjoyed the time we got to spend with Joe. He was a businessman whose word was good. They don't make men like Joe anymore, we will miss him and his wonderful Irish sense of humor. God Bless. The Ward Brothers.

Dear Jerry, sorry for your loss. We met you through Z

Joey, Mary and everyone,

You have the thoughts and prayers of the Illinois contingent as you navigate this Christmas weekend. Take comfort in knowing you have a tremendous force guiding you from above now.

Just think -- Ray, Karen, and Joe all love a good party -- I imagine they will certainly have one heck of a holiday celebration!

Uncle Joe,

Your kindness will never be forgotten. You will be missed.

Love, Patti Jo and children.

You were bigger than life to me and I will miss your motivational talks and the way you really listened to me when we spoke.

Oh yeah, do they have Wine O Way up there?

I will miss you dearly!

Joe will most certainly be missed. I've enjoyed getting to know him and am blessed to have several joyful memories with him and the Keating family. My prayers are with all of you.

One of my very best friends in life. We will all miss you dearly, Joe, as life will not be the same without your love and humor. May you rest in peace. Sharon McGregor

A dear friend, mentor, "older brother" to Pat - Joe had a great sense of humor and wisdom. His seat at the EBC can never be filled.