Joseph Imafidon Igunbor Sr., affectionately known as Joe, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2023, in Niles, IL, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born on June 19, 1938, in Benin, Nigeria, Joe was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who touched the lives of many with his intelligence, courage, work ethic, his laugh and his contagious personality.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Cecilia B.; his children Stefan (Corrine), Rexx (Stephanie), Max, Henry (DiAna), Joseph Jr., Robert, Kevin (Crystal), and Joyce (Emmanuel); his grandchildren Elliott, Marissa, Myles, Tyler, Ethan, Cheyenne, Bella, Nico, Brandon, Achille, Kane, Teayah, Brianna, Williams, Isoken, and Imuentinyan; and 13 great grandchildren: Suhmeir, Oghenerukeme, Jedidiah, Kimberly, Kendra, Jeremiah, Aize, Kezia, Osaruhese, Kylie, Neriah, Junior, and Osamagbe. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Imafidon and Amieye and his granddaughter Sofie.

Joe's pursuit of knowledge and passion for engineering led him to earn a degree in electrical engineering in Nigeria before continuing his education in Germany, where he obtained a mechanical engineering degree. He eventually moved to the United States, where he earned a Civil Engineering degree from DeVry University. Throughout his life, Joe's intelligence and determination in the field of engineering were evident, as he became a respected and accomplished professional.

Joe's career included working as an engineer for Johnson Controls, where he was known for his dedication and expertise. Later, he became the owner and broker of an Allstate insurance agency, where his leadership and business acumen were greatly admired. Joe was also an active member of various professional associations, contributing his time, knowledge, and experience to further the field of engineering and support his colleagues.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Joe was a man of many interests. He enjoyed wrestling, sports, reading, computers, and telling stories. His love for learning and his curious nature made him an engaging conversationalist, always eager to share his knowledge and experiences with others. Joe's intelligence, courage, and interesting personality made him a beloved figure in his community, and his presence will be dearly missed.

A celebration of Joe's life will be held on Tuesday, May 9th with a mass at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Ransom (8300 N Greenwood Ave, Niles, IL). A memorial will follow at Theis Gorski Funeral Home (3517 N Pulaski Rd. Chicago) from 12:00 to 3:00, where family and friends will gather to remember and honor the incredible man he was.

Joseph Imafidon Igunbor Sr.'s legacy will live on through his loving family, his numerous friends, and the countless lives he touched with his intelligence, courage, generosity, and commanding personality. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.