Official Obituary of
Russell Corey
December 26, 1929 ~ May 12, 2018 (age 88) 88 Years Old
Russell Corey Obituary
Russell Corey of Joliet, IL died May 12, 2018 at the age of 88. Russ was born December 26, 1929 in Peoria, IL. He graduated from Peoria High School in 1947 and received a BA in mathematics from DePauw University in 1951. He attended Garrett Biblical Institute and received his MDiv in 1955. Russ later took graduate courses in business at Northern Illinois University.
Russ married Louise Simek Kennedy in Evanston, IL in 1960. They lived in Batavia, IL, where Russ worked as an associate director of admissions for Knox College and the University of Chicago and as director of admissions for George Williams College.
In 1981, the family moved to Franklin, TN, where Russ coordinated admissions activities for Methodist-affiliated colleges and universities for the United Methodist Church Board of Higher Education.
Russ took a job as director of enrollment management at Joliet Junior College in 1986, overseeing admissions and financial aid. He also taught courses in mathematics there. During this time, he lived in Plainfield until he retired, moving later to Shorewood and then to Joliet. He continued to tutor students during retirement.
Russ was an avid reader and enjoyed tennis. Other interests included college basketball, classical music, gardening, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and his beloved (Brooklyn, then LA) Dodgers.
He was an active member of the United Methodist Church, both locally and nationally, advocating for the church's role in promoting social justice.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Russell and Katherine (Hoagland) Corey; his sister, Jeanne; and son Patrick.
He is survived by three children: Kathleen (Chad) of Washington, D.C.; Kirk (Jennifer) of North Liberty, IA; and Scot (Heidi) of Brentwood, TN. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Alexander, Lucas, Vivian, Edith, and Helen. Services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Methodist General Board of Church and Society, at https://www.umcjustice.org/
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Services
Family to do services at later date
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