Joe Casey

Joe Harold "Mighty Joe" Casey, 83, of Greenville, Mo., passed away Thursday, March 17, 2016 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Joe was born August 8, 1932, in Kennett, Mo., to Jesse V. Casey and Beatrice V. (Shelton) Casey.

He moved to St. Louis, Mo. when he was 4 years old. After attending Central High School in St. Louis, he had his mother sign him over to the U.S. Marine Corps at only 17 years old. He completed basic training in Parris Island, S.C., February 1951 and was transferred to Camp Pendleton, Calif., at which time he completed his advanced weapons training March 1951. He was then sent to Pusan, Korea, May 5, 1951. He participated in operations against enemy forces in South and Central Korea before returning home to Camp Pendleton, Calif. He was honorably discharged November 5, 1953, with the final rank of PFC.

While serving in Korea, "Mighty Joe" was shot twice. He received a Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with three stars, United Nations Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, USMC Expert Rifle Badge, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation-Foreign, and a Pistol Marksmanship Badge.

After leaving the Marine Corps, he worked for Middle West Freightways for 27 years before retiring in 1992 on Lake Wappapello, Mo. Along the way, he met his wife of 49 years, Mary (Coleman) Casey. They were married November 11, 1967 in St. Louis. She survives.

Other survivors include their children, Sonjia Y. Wilkerson, Michelle R. Witte, Oscar Witte, Joseph H. Casey II; one brother, William "Bill" W. Casey (Barbra); sister and brother-in-law Debra and Charles Lindberg and sisters-in-law, Robin Coleman and Connie Coleman; 15 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Sylvia B. Casey; his son, Randall Ray Wilkerson (April 7, 1964); brothers-in-law, Carl Coleman and Ronald Coleman and sister-in-law, Sandra Kay Midkiff.

Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2016 at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 2016 in the funeral home chapel with Brother Robert Randolph and Ron Fowler officiating. Burial will be held in Old Oak Hill Cemetery with full military honors.

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