The visitation for Joseph I. Weeks, 89, will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL.

A service of celebration of his life will be held at the Wheaton Bible Church, 27W500 North Ave., West Chicago, IL, on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. Interment is private at Wheaton Cemetery.

Born October 2, 1921, in Clinton, NC, the eldest of three sons of J.I. Weeks D.V.S. and Margaret Ruth Welsh Weeks, he passed away Sunday, November 14, at Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream, IL.

As a teenager in Clinton, Joe earned his Class A amateur radio license, worked in a grocery store, and accompanied his father on veterinary calls. At age sixteen he went to Wheaton Academy in Wheaton, IL to complete high school and then enrolled in Wheaton College, class of 1942, majoring in chemistry. The day after graduation Joe went to work at the explosive manufacturing facility in Elwood, IL, where he continued for two years. In 1943 he married Carol Burnett Anderson, whom he had met while working as a teaching assistant in a chemistry lab at Wheaton College the previous year.

Joe was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1944. His amateur radio experience enabled him to teach electronics at Navy Pier in Chicago for the remainder of World War II. After the war he worked for Sherwin Williams Paint Company in Cleveland, OH for two years, and then he returned to Chicago to work for The William Wrigley Jr. Company. He built and operated a flavor factory in West Chicago, IL. From 1957 to 1959 he managed the restoration of a chewing gum manufacturing facility in Wembley, England. Upon his return to the U.S. he worked at the Wrigley headquarters in Chicago and at Amurol Confections, a Wrigley subsidiary. In 1972 he went to work for ServiceMaster in Downers Grove, IL as a Vice President and enjoyed a variety of interesting assignments over the next fifteen years. Upon his retirement, Joe and Carol began wintering in Bradenton, FL.

Joe was an elder in the Wheaton Bible Church during the 1960's and was instrumental in acquiring and developing the square block at its former downtown Wheaton location, now the north campus of St. John's Lutheran Church and School.

Joe maintained close personal and professional ties to his hometown, Clinton, NC. He visited family there at least annually most of his adult life, most recently to attend the wedding of Brittany Weeks and Jason McGuirt in June, 2010. He also developed an industrial park to attract manufacturing jobs to Clinton.

Joe and Carol were loyal alumni of Wheaton College. The Weeks Chemistry Lab, dedicated October 1, 2010, commemorates their lifelong devotion to one another and to the college.

Joe and Carol actively encouraged the education of their children, grandchildren and other young people whom they met. Joe was a model of integrity, responsibility and faith for his family. He had a keen mind and enjoyed sharing books and ideas with his grown children and mentoring the younger generations on their career paths.

He is survived by his three children: Cheryl (John Rosten) Weeks-Rosten of Midland, MI, Dr. James (Lois) Weeks of Venice, FL and Laurel (Douglas Cremer) Weeks of Sunnyvale, CA; eight grandchildren: Joe (Christina) Weeks, Mark Weeks, Nathan (Marlene) Weeks, Dr. Lane (Chris) DeWan, Brendan Ittelson, Sara Ittelson, Randy (Lesley) Rosten and Lisabeth (fiance Donald Rembert) Rosten; five great-grandchildren: Viggo, Svea and Elin Weeks, and Ollie and Soren DeWan; his brother, Dr. Paul (Doris) Weeks; brother-in-law Wilbur (Muriel) Anderson; and Ann Weeks, widow of his brother John. He was also loved by many nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-six years, Carol; his brother, John Weeks D.V.M.; sisters-in-law Barbara Weeks and Ruth Anderson; and brothers-in law John Burton Anderson and Ralph Anderson.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Joseph I. and Carol Anderson Weeks Scholarship Fund at Wheaton College or to the Wheaton Bible Church.