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Joseph Thomas Beard (42) of Rockton, IL, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Northwestern Hospital on May, 7, 2023, after valiantly battling STAT3 Gain-of-Function Disease.
Joey was born April 6, 1981, at Freeport Memorial Hospital to Larry and Jill Beard of Dakota, IL. Joey was baptized at Vanbrocklin Methodist Church in Freeport, IL, confirmed at St. Paul’s UCC in Davis, IL, and graduated from Dakota High School in 1999. Joey graduated from the University of Illinois in May of 2004 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering, earning the number one spot among his peers for his senior electronics project.
Joey married the love of his life, Hayley Dunn, on September 7, 2013, at Sand Lake Wesleyan Church in Onalaska, WI. Their lives were complete with the births of their daughters, Elsie (8) and Molly (6). Joey worked at Taylor Company in Rockton, IL, for eleven years, working his way through the company to become the manager of Embedded Controls, Software, and the Engineering Lab.
Joey was a devoted husband, father, and uncle, who valued spending time with his two daughters, as well as his nieces and nephews. Despite his health battles, Joey always placed his family first, even checking out of a hospital stay early to attend the Daddy-Daughter dance with Elsie.
He was a gifted musician and lover of music who sang “You Are My Sunshine” nightly to his girls. For the last 7 years, Joey battled an insufferable disease, yet his wry humor, smile, and infectious laugh were testaments to his indomitable spirit and his desire to build memories with his wife and girls. All those mourning bear witness to the amazing life Joey lived.
Joey is survived by his wife, Hayley Beard; his daughters, Elsie and Molly Beard; his parents, Larry and Jill Beard; his in-laws, Bud and Kathy Dunn; his sister, Jamie (Tony) Fuchs; his sister, Tara (Dave) Flannery; his brother, Jeff (Maria) Williams; Hayley’s siblings and their spouses; numerous nieces and nephews; and an amazing group of friends. Joey is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, George and Marion (nee Cunningham) Beard; maternal grandparents Jack Haley and Gladys (nee Carter) Haley; Aunt Kathleen Haley; and Aunt Julie (nee Beard) Heitz.
A visitation is scheduled from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on May 11, 2023, at Roscoe United Methodist Church, 10816 Main Street, Roscoe, IL 61073. Church services will follow on May 12, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., immediately followed by a light luncheon at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Roscoe United Methodist Church (marked for the Beard Family) to be used for their daughters’ college funds.
