Joseph E. Lobaito

Joseph E. Lobaito, Geneseo, passed away Thursday, September 24, 2015, at his home.  A Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29th at St. Malachy Catholic Church, Geneseo.  Father Mike Pakula will celebrate.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Geneseo, where military honors will be accorded by Don Cherry VFW Post 5083.  A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, September 28 at Vandemore Funeral Homes, Geneseo, IL, where a rosary will be recited at 6:45 p.m.  Memorials may be made to St. Malachy Church, Rebuilding Together, or the Honor Flight Program. 

Joe was born on January 29, 1922, in New York City, New York, the son of Benedetto & Angela Badalmenti Lobaito ~ both Sicilian immigrants from Partinico, Sicily.  He was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Heise on June 11, 1955, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Litchfield, Il.  Joe joined the Navy on October 15, 1942, and was sent to hospital corps school at Portsmouth, VA.  He also served in a naval hospital in Jacksonville, FL and then at a naval station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before being assigned to the USS General George O. Squier.  During the war, the ship brought combat troops to France and England and returned with Army causalities.  The ship went half-way around the world to India and Karachi.  Joe helped to entertain the troops in his spare time by playing saxophone in a band on the ship.  After being discharged as a Pharmacist Mate Third Class in 1946, he attended Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis, MN and the University of Minnesota.  Joe considered himself a “transplanted” Midwesterner and worked at several radio stations throughout the midwest:  WSMI, Litchfield, IL, WJBD, Salem, IL, WDZ, Decatur, IL, WHRV, Ann Arbor, MI, KMAQ, Maquoketa, IA, and WHBF, Rock Island, IL.  He purchased radio station WGEN - AM, Geneseo, IL in 1970 and put WGEN – FM on the air in 1977. He sold the stations in 1990. 

After retirement, he volunteered for the International Executive Service Corp and accepted an assignment to counsel and advise Radio Station Glarus in Burgas, Bulgaria and Radio Station Bravo, in Varna, Bulgaria.  

Joe was an avid reader, active in community affairs, loved to travel, and attended the many functions of his children and grandchildren.  He was a member of St. Malachy Catholic Church, a charter member of St. Malachy’s Knights of Columbus, the American Legion,  and the VFW. He was a former member of Geneseo Rotary Club, National Association of Broadcasters and the Radio Advertising Bureau.  Joe loved a good joke and afforded every opportunity he had to showcase his comedic talents.  Most of all, he loved being with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Ellen; his children, Kathryn (William) Hanford, Geneseo, Jim (Julanne) Lobaito,  Altoona, IA, John (Donna) Lobaito, McHenry, IL and Julie Wiese, Geneseo. He also leaves his sister; Margaret Lobaito, New York City, NY, and 11 grandchildren; Elizabeth Hanford, Chicago, IL, Daniel Hanford, Geneseo, Anthony (K.C.) Lobaito, Saipan, Justin (Cara) Lobaito, Altoona, Angela Lobaito, Altoona, Michael Lobaito, Waukesha, WI, Megan Lobaito, Columbia, MO, Claire Wiese, Davenport, IA, Allison, Charlie and Lily Wiese, Geneseo, and one great-grandchild; Kinnick Joseph Lobaito, Altoona. He is survived by many nieces and nephews.      

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, brothers; Salvatore, Frank, Jasper and Leonard, sisters; Rose and Jean, and son-in-law; Mark Wiese. 

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