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· A life in the study

Joseph Worek

Born at Joliet in 1922 and died at Crest Hill in 2018.

born 19 Mar 1922 at Joliet, Will died 2 May 2018 at Crest Hill, Will

Also written Józef Worek

Hacker Avenue

Joseph Worek was born in Joliet, Will County, Illinois, on 19 March 1922, the fifth child and third son of Martin Worek and Margaret (Margarita) Senkowska, Polish immigrants from Wesoła in Galicia. On 30 April he was baptised Józef, and in the register his parents appear under the Polish forms of their names, Marcin and Małgorzata.1 His brothers Stanley and Andrew and his sisters Julia and Mary were all older, and he was the baby of the family until his sister Katherine was born when he was three.2 In April 1930, when he was seven, the family was living in its own house at 209 Hacker Avenue; his father worked in the merchant mill of a Joliet steel works.2

The Depression years

His father died in September 1932, when Joseph was ten.3 His mother kept the family together. In April 1940 eighteen-year-old Joseph was living with her in the house she owned at 1109 Harrison Street, with his brothers Stanley and Andrew and his sister Katherine, and the census recorded him as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the New Deal program that put young men from struggling families to work in forests and parks.4

A long life in Joliet

Joseph married Marjorie Ann Peterson, who was born in 1928; by April 1950 they were living at 814 Oneida Street in Joliet, where Joseph, twenty-seven, drove a tractor in a steel mill. They had a son (living).5–7 He spent his life in Joliet and outlived all his brothers and sisters: when his youngest sister, Katherine, died in November 2014, he was the only one of the six still living.8

Joseph died on 2 May 2018 at Willow Falls, in Crest Hill, just north of Joliet, at the age of ninety-six. He was buried on 8 May in Resurrection Cemetery at Romeoville, where his mother and his brother Stanley also lie.6–7, 9

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Joliet, 1922
  • Baptism at Joliet, 1922
  • Occupation, 1940
  • Occupation at Joliet, 1950
  • Marriage to Marjorie Ann Peterson, 1950
  • Death at Crest Hill, 2018
  • and 1 more
  • 4 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Sources. The facts here come from records attached to the family's Ancestry tree, from the Catholic Diocese of Joliet index, from the Fred C.
  • Marriage. His wife, Marjorie Ann Peterson, is named in the funeral-home record and on Find a Grave.

Sources

Source 1

1 Illinois, U.S., Catholic Diocese of Joliet, 1922

Source 2

2 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Joliet

Source 3

3 Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1932

Source 4

4 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Joliet

Sources 5–7

5 1950 U.S. Federal Census, Joliet, 1923
6 U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847–Current, 1922
7 Find a Grave, memorial 189487217, 1922

Source 8

8 Katherine Jankola, 2014

Source 9

9 Find a Grave, memorial 139606234

Life in time

19 Mar 1922

Birth , Joliet, Will, Illinois, United States

proven Sources 1, 2, 4, 6, 7

How we know

  1. 1922 Birth 19 Mar 1922 · Joliet, Will · proven

    Born to Marcin (Martin) and Małgorzata (Margaret) Worek. The date is in the index of his baptism six weeks later and in the funeral-home and Find a Grave records of his death. The town is inferred from the family's home: they lived in Joliet from 1909 to 1940, and he lived there all his life.

    The Joliet diocese baptism index, from a register made at the time, gives Józef Worek, born 19 Mar 1922, son of Marcin and Margorzata [Małgorzata], the Polish forms of his parents' names. The funeral-home record of his death (which names his parents Martin and Margaret Worek) and Find a Grave give the same date. His ages fit: 7 in April 1930 and 18 in April 1940. No civil birth record has been searched (Illinois births after 1916 are restricted).

    Sources 1, 2, 4, 6, 7

  2. 1922 Baptism 30 Apr 1922 · Joliet, Will · proven

    As "Józef" Worek, son of Marcin and Margorzata. Index only: the parish and the register image have not been read; probably Holy Cross, Joliet, the family's parish in 1909–1918.

    The Catholic Diocese of Joliet baptism index. The birth date and his parents' names identify him. The place is inferred from the family's home; the parish is not stated in the index.

    Source 1

  3. 1930 Residence Joliet, Will · proven

    209 Hacker Avenue (E.D. 48, sheet 5A, dwelling 70, family 78), his parents' own house. Son, 7.

    His parents Martin and Margaret, his brothers and sisters and his age identify him. The index was read; the image has not been viewed.

    Source 2

  4. 1940 Residence Joliet, Will · proven

    1109 Harrison [Street] (E.D. 99-62, sheet 11A, household 161), his widowed mother's house. Son, 18, with his brothers Stanley and Andrew and his youngest sister, Katherine.

    His mother Margaret, widow, heads the household, with the brothers and sister of the 1930 census; his age fits. The index was read; the image has not been viewed.

    Source 4

  5. 1940 Occupation proven

    Civilian Conservation Corps (1940 census). Where his camp was is not known.

    His own line of the 1940 census, as indexed. Enrollees were often counted at home as well as at their camps; the image has not been viewed.

    Source 4

  6. 1950 Residence Joliet, Will · proven

    814 Oneida Street (E.D. 99-61, p. 6, dwelling 60). Head, 27, married, born Illinois, with his wife Marge, 21.

    His name, age and Illinois birth, Joliet, and his wife Marge, who fits Marjorie Ann, identify him (index read 27 Sep 2026; image not read).

    Source 5

  7. 1950 Occupation Joliet, Will · proven

    Tractor operator in a steel mill, 48 hours in the census week, a private worker.

    His line of the 1950 census (index).

    Source 5

  8. 1950 Marriage, with Marjorie Ann Peterson before Apr 1950 · proven

    No marriage record has been found. In April 1950 "Marge Worek", 21, was his wife at 814 Oneida Street, Joliet. She was his wife at her death in 2018.

    The 1950 census (index read 27 Sep 2026) lists Joseph Worek, 27, married, with his wife Marge, 21, which fits Marjorie Ann, born Nov 1928; his funeral-home obituary record and Find a Grave name his wife Marjorie Ann Peterson.

    Sources 5, 6, 7

  9. 2014 Residence Nov 2014 · Joliet, Will · proven

    "Joseph Worek of Joliet", the only surviving brother, in his sister Katherine's obituary.

    His sister Katherine's obituary of 25 Nov 2014 (image read) names him as her one surviving brother, of Joliet.

    Source 8

  10. 2018 Death 2 May 2018 · Crest Hill, Will · proven

    At Willow Falls [a care facility in Crest Hill], aged 96 (funeral-home record); Find a Grave gives Crest Hill.

    The funeral-home obituary record (Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, Joliet) gives Joseph Worek, born 19 Mar 1922, died 2 May 2018 at Willow Falls, and names his parents Martin and Margaret Worek, his wife Marjorie Ann Peterson and his brothers and sisters Katherine, Stanley, Andrew, Mary and Julia. Find a Grave gives the same dates and Crest Hill, Will County.

    Sources 6, 7

  11. 2018 Burial 8 May 2018 · Resurrection Cemetery, Romeoville · proven

    Find a Grave memorial 189487217; his mother Margaret and his brother Stanley are buried in the same cemetery.

    The funeral-home record gives burial on 8 May 2018 at Romeoville, and Find a Grave names the cemetery, Resurrection Cemetery.

    Sources 6, 7

  • proven

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Places in this life

3 places, in order
1 2 3
  1. 1 Joliet, Will County Birth 19 Mar 1922 · Baptism 30 Apr 1922 · Residence 1930 · 4 more
  2. 2 Crest Hill, Will County Death 2 May 2018
  3. 3 Resurrection Cemetery, Romeoville Burial 8 May 2018

Family

Father Martin Worek 1881–1932 Mother Margaret Senkowska 1886–1962
This page Joseph Worek 1922–2018
Wife · m. before Apr 1950 Marjorie Ann Peterson 1928–2018
Child Living Worek living
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Records

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Deaths and burials 1 record · 2014
The evidence 11 facts with their grades, 9 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth 19 Mar 1922 Joliet, Will, Illinois, United States proven 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 7
Baptism 30 Apr 1922 Joliet, Will, Illinois, United States proven 1
Residence 1930 Joliet, Will, Illinois, United States proven 2
Residence 1940 Joliet, Will, Illinois, United States proven 4
Occupation 1940 proven 4
Residence 1950 Joliet, Will, Illinois, United States proven 5
Occupation 1950 Joliet, Will, Illinois, United States proven 5
Marriage with Marjorie Ann Peterson before Apr 1950 proven 5 , 6 , 7
Residence Nov 2014 Joliet, Will, Illinois, United States proven 8
Death 2 May 2018 Crest Hill, Will, Illinois, United States proven 6 , 7
Burial 8 May 2018 Resurrection Cemetery, Romeoville, Will, Illinois, United States proven 6 , 7

Research notes

  • Sources: The facts here come from records attached to the family's Ancestry tree, from the Catholic Diocese of Joliet index, from the Fred C. Dames funeral-home record and Find a Grave (indexes read 27 Sep 2026), and from his sister Katherine's obituary (image read). The census images and the baptism register have not been re-read; only the indexes were read. His funeral-home obituary text and the biography on his Find a Grave memorial have not been read.
  • Identity: (1) The Joliet diocese index gives Józef Worek, born 19 Mar 1922, son of Marcin and Margorzata.1 (2) In 1930 Joseph, 7, is the son of Martin and Margaret Worek at 209 Hacker Avenue.2 (3) In 1940 Joseph, 18, is with his widowed mother at 1109 Harrison Street.4 (4) In 2014 Joseph Worek of Joliet is the surviving brother of Katherine Jankola, daughter of Martin and Margaret Worek.8 (5) The funeral-home record of 2018 gives Joseph Worek, born 19 Mar 1922, son of Margaret and Martin Worek, with his brothers and sisters.6 (6) Find a Grave gives the same dates and links his mother's memorial.7, 9
  • Birth: The date is in the baptism index and in both death records.1, 6, 7 The family tree's "about 1923, Illinois" was computed from the 1930 census and is superseded.
  • Civilian Conservation Corps: The 1940 index notes him as CCC.4 His CCC enrollment record (National Personnel Records Center) would give his camp and dates of service.
  • Marriage: His wife, Marjorie Ann Peterson, is named in the funeral-home record and on Find a Grave.6, 7 The date and place of the marriage have not been found. The 1950 census of Joliet (index read 27 Sep 2026) lists Joseph, 27, married, with his wife "Marge", 21, at 814 Oneida Street, so they were married by April 1950.5 The old family tree also attaches a Find a Grave entry for her (born 11 Nov 1928 at Morris, Grundy County; died 12 Apr 2018 at Joliet, three weeks before him; not read here).
  • "Jack": The funeral-home record lists a sibling "Jack" among his brothers and sisters. No brother of that name appears in the censuses of 1920–1940 or in Katherine's obituary, which names all the others; Jack is probably a nickname of one of the known brothers, or an index error.6, 8
  • Death: 2 May 2018 at Willow Falls (funeral-home record), Crest Hill (Find a Grave).6, 7 Willow Falls is taken to be the care facility of that name at Crest Hill.
  • Later life: His WWII draft registration (he turned 18 in 1940), any military service and his occupations have not been searched. Next: the WWII draft cards, the SSDI and claims index, and his full obituary (Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 2018).
  • Brothers and sisters: Stanley (1910–1995), Andrew (1912–1966), Julia (1915–2006), Mary Ann (1918–1994) and Katherine (1925–2014).2, 9, 8

Working notes

  • Death year from Find a Grave only; CCC 1940
  • Fred C. Dames obituary + Find a Grave: d. 2 May 2018 Willow Falls, Crest Hill; bur. 8 May 2018 Resurrection Cemetery

Sources

  1. 1

    "Illinois, U.S., Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Sacramental Records, 1800–1979," database with images, Ancestry.com, baptism index entry: Józef [Joseph] Worek, born 19 March 1922, baptised 30 April 1922; parents Marcin [Martin] and Margorzata [Małgorzata, Margaret] (index only; the register image and its parish not read).

    Ancestry

  2. 2

    1930 U.S. Federal Census, Joliet, Will County, Illinois, E.D. 48, sheet 5A, dwelling 70, family 78, 209 Hacker Avenue, Joseph Worek (son, 7) in the household of Martin Worek (head, 50, born Poland; home owned, value $2,500; "mechant [merchant] mill", steel mill), with Margaret (wife, 44, born Poland) and their children Stanly (19), Andrew (17), Julia (15), Mary (12) and Kate (5); FHL microfilm 2340304; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read).

    Ancestry

  3. 3

    "Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916–1947," database, Ancestry.com, Martin Worek, died 27 September 1932, Joliet, Will County, Illinois; born 11 November 1881, Poland; age 50; laborer; married; spouse Margaret Worek; burial 30 September 1932, Holy Cross [Cemetery], Joliet; FHL microfilm 1684557.

    Ancestry

  4. 4

    1940 U.S. Federal Census, Joliet, Will County, Illinois, E.D. 99-62, sheet 11A, household 161, 1109 Harrison [Street], owned, value $2,000: Joseph Worek (son, 18; Civilian Conservation Corps) in the household of Margaret Worek (head, 48, widowed, born Poland, alien; dishwasher), with her sons Stanley (29) and Andrew (28) and her daughter Katherine (14); roll m-t0627-00908; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read).

    Ancestry

  5. 5

    1950 U.S. Federal Census, Joliet, Will County, Illinois, E.D. 99-61, p. 6, dwelling 60, 814 Oneida St.: Joseph Worek (head, white, male, 27, born about 1923, Illinois; married; tractor operator, steel mill; private worker; 48 hours) (record 224729820) and Marge Worek (wife, 21) (record 224729821); database with images, Ancestry.com (index read 27 September 2026; image not read).

    Ancestry

  6. 6

    "U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847–Current," database, Ancestry.com, Fred C. Dames Funeral Home (Joliet, Illinois) obituary record: Joseph Worek, male, death age 96, born 19 March 1922; died 2 May 2018, "Willow Falls" [Crest Hill]; burial 8 May 2018, Romeoville; obituary place Joliet, Illinois; parents Margaret Worek and Martin Worek; spouse Marjorie Ann Peterson; one son [name withheld: living]; siblings Katherine, Stanley, Jack, Andrew, Mary and Julia (index read 27 September 2026; the obituary text not read).

    Ancestry

  7. 7

    Find a Grave, memorial 189487217, Joseph Worek (19 Mar 1922 – 2 May 2018, Crest Hill, Will County, Illinois), Resurrection Cemetery, Romeoville, Will County, Illinois; linked to his mother, Margaret Worek, and his spouse, Marjorie Worek (findagrave.com/memorial/189487217; the memorial's biography not read). Indexed in "U.S., Find a Grave Index," Ancestry.com (index read 27 September 2026).

    Ancestry

  8. 8

    "Katherine Jankola," obituary, The Herald-News (Joliet, Illinois), 25 November 2014, p. 16: Katherine "Kay" Jankola (Worek), 89 years, passed away Sunday, November 23, 2014, at Silver Cross Hospital; survived by one brother, Joseph Worek of Joliet, and nieces, nephews and cousins; preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Jankola, her parents, Martin and Margaret Worek, two brothers, Stanley (late Irene) and Andrew (late Helen) Worek, two sisters, Julia (late Frank) Bahor and Mary Farnsworth, and one nephew, Dan Bahor; born in Joliet and a lifelong resident; an employee of Gerlach & Barklow Printing for 35 years; a member of the former SS. Cyril & Methodius Church; funeral Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. from the Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Rd., to the SS. Cyril & Methodius Cemetery Chapel for Mass, interment SS. Cyril's Cemetery; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/182282970), read 27 September 2026. Indexed in "U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s–current," Ancestry.com (Katherine Jankola, maiden name Worek).

    Ancestry

  9. 9

    Find a Grave, memorial 139606234, Margaret Worek (1885–1962), Resurrection Cemetery, Romeoville, Will County, Illinois; linked to the memorials of her children Stanley Worek (1910–1995), Andrew Worek (1912–1966), Julia M. Worek Bahor (1915–2006) and Joseph Worek (1922–2018) (findagrave.com/memorial/139606234).