Joseph W. Tully of Chicago passed away at the age of 75, surrounded by his wife and daughters while listening to his favorite oldies. He leaves behind a profound legacy of love and commitment to his family and friends. A fiercely devoted husband to Karen Sakash, he cherished their life together and his three daughters: Elisabeth Tully, Katherine Ramsey, and Sarah Tully. Joseph took immense pride in being a grandfather to Winona, Robin, Elizabeth, and Calvin. He is also survived by his three younger siblings—Thomas Tully, Edward Tully, and Kathleen Altman.
Joe was a passionate, lifelong learner. He loved to read and devoured thrillers, detective series, novels related to Ireland, along with books about history. A man of many interests, Joe turned each one into an adventure. In his 50s, he became a licensed pilot and bought a plane, flying Karen over the Grand Canyon. In his 60s, he and Karen bought a farm in Arizona, learned to drive a backhoe and other heavy equipment, and sowed and harvested alfalfa for four years. He learned to fly fish and took computer programming courses (Python) in his 70s. He also enrolled in several photography classes and attended lectures at museums like the Adler Planetarium and the Smithsonian Institute. He always invested in the latest technology while nurturing his love of learning.
Joe was a devout Democrat and White Sox fan, even when it was a challenge. He loved to drive and drove Route 66 twice—once with his brother Tom and once with Karen and their friends Jobeth and Darryl. He was notoriously bad at finding things around the house and would often say, “Maritza must have moved it,” whenever he misplaced something (Maritza, the housekeeper, moved back to Honduras in 2010). His palate was not especially refined. He was a meat and potatoes kind of guy. He had an incredible memory and a knack for storytelling, often sharing detailed tales from his youth. He could recall, in great detail, a drunken escapade with a Loyola fraternity brother or the names of every nun who taught him at St. Alexis in the 1950s.
Joe was generous with his time and resources. He offered legal advice to many friends and frequently donated to charities and political candidates he supported. A well-respected attorney for over 40 years, he chose to work for himself to prioritize family time, which allowed him to be present for his daughters. He coached AYSO soccer for 15 years and served as president of the Trinity Irish Dance Academy booster club for so long that he eventually had to oust himself from the position. He was always there for school pick-ups and was immensely proud of his daughters, serving as a compass to help them navigate life. He was grateful to his daughters’ partners, Carl, Todd, and Kevin. He was a role model for everyone around him, including his siblings and nieces and nephews.
He was the patriarch of the whole Tully family. His nephew Michael mused to his parents when he was three, “how come Uncle Joe is the boss of us all?” He was one of 17 cousins on the Tully side and a pioneer of the annual Tully Family Reunion – a tradition he helped begin in 1982 that continues to this day. In fact, the weekend after Joe’s services is the 43rd annual “TFR.”
His tenacity and will to live, particularly as he became sicker in his later years, were astounding. He was determined to keep living as long as he could contribute to the lives of those around him. He was especially motivated by the birth of his four grandchildren between 2020 and 2023. He fought hard to know them for as long as possible, witnessing his youngest grandchild, Calvin, take his first steps, and his oldest grandchild, Winnie, start preschool.
Joe will be remembered for his generosity of spirit, his captivating stories, his kindness, and his devotion to his family.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road, Elmhurst. Friends and family are invited to join for a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 134 Arthur Street, Elmhurst. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Hillside.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, 6300 North Ridge, Chicago, IL 60660, an organization that was close to Joseph’s heart and where his beloved niece Kara resides.
For further information, please call 630-832-0018 or visit www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com.