Joseph 'Papa Joe' Callis Sr.'s Obituary
OBITUARY
Joseph D. 'Papa Joe' Callis, Sr.
Joseph D. 'Papa Joe' Callis, Sr., 83 years of Columbia, Illinois, passed away on April 6, 2017 at St. Anthony's Hospital, St. Louis, MO. He was born June 15, 1933, in Paducah, KY, son of the late Sidney and Lillie Mae, nee Romaine, Callis. He was married to the late Barbara, nee Wright, Callis. She had passed away August 11, 2002. They were married October 4, 1954, in Ranton, NM.
'Papa Joe' was retired from the Columbia Police Dept., with the rank of Captain. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, IL Police Assoc., Southern IL Police Chiefs Assoc., and was a retired firearms instructor for SILEC. Other memberships included American Legion Post 581, Columbia Blue Lodge #474 A.F. & A.M., Columbia Volunteer Fire Dept - Retired, and a life member of the NRA. He had served in the U.S. Army, and was a Veteran of the Korean War.
Surviving are his children, Paula Ann Ledbetter of Astoria, IL, Joseph (Karin) D. Callis, Jr. of Columbia, IL, and Dennis (Karen) W. Callis of Columbia, IL, grandchildren, Daniel Barks, David (Kristin) Barks, Joseph Callis III, Andrew Callis, Cristin (Tim) Levine, Lauren, and Michael Callis, and great-grandchildren, Isaac and Remington Barks.
He was also preceded in death by 10 brothers and sisters, and a son-in-law, Michael Ledbetter.
Visitation will be Sunday, April 9, 2017, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm, at Lawlor Funeral Home, Columbia, IL. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday April 10, at the First Baptist Church, Columbia, IL, with Pastor Jonathan Peters, officiating. Interment will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Columbia, IL.
As an expression of sympathy, the family prefers memorial contributions to: Fraternal Order of Police, Monroe County Chapter. For more information, please access our website, www.lawlorfuneralhome.com.
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