Joe McCormick

Joe McCormick
Died: September 26, 2025 in St. Louis, Missouri
Joe McCormick passed away on the evening of Friday, September 26, 2025 at his home in St. Louis, Missouri, surrounded by his family. Joe lived a life exemplified by hard work, determination, humility, and generosity and he will be missed greatly by all who knew him during his 91 blessed years on this earth.
The second oldest of four children, Joe was raised in Forest Park and Oak Park, Illinois, by Claudia (Towey) and Joseph McCormick, and attended St. Bernadine's Elementary School and Fenwick Academy High School.
A standout football player at Fenwick, Joe's collegiate football journey took him to Northwestern University, Great Lakes Naval Academy, University of New Mexico, and finally Southern Illinois University, where he met the love of his life, Margaret, whom he married in 1961. After completing his amateur eligibility, Joe tried his hand at professional football and signed a contract with the Buffalo Bills in 1961. Joe was released by the Bills after the final preseason game and returned to Southern Illinois to complete his studies, receiving his BS in Finance and Marketing in 1962.
With a growing family, Joe put his charm, quick wit, and ambition to work as he embarked on a lifelong career in the paper industry. Joe spent more than a decade in sales for Nekoosa-Edwards and Butler Paper Company. His assignments would take Joe and his family across the country, living in Illinois, Texas, California, and back to Illinois.
In the early 1970s, Joe settled his family on a farm in Manhattan, Illinois, which they would call home for the next 35-plus years. In 1975 Joe would branch out, forming his own paper distributorship and purchasing General Credit Forms, Inc., a small printing company in Earth City, Missouri, serving the young credit card industry. Through hard work, innovation, and surrounding himself with a great team, Joe grew General Credit Forms along with the burgeoning credit card industry. Joe received ten patents on the production of transaction forms and receipt rolls that would make manufacturing more efficient and transactions more secure. In the 1990s Joe began expanding his portfolio of businesses which would grow to include Golden Business Forms, Inc., South Seas Data LLC, Advanced Labeling Systems LLC, and Paper Systems, Inc. As a business leader, Joe cared deeply for his employees, customers, and colleagues.
Joe's unwavering drive in business was due in large part to his desire to provide for his wife, Margaret, and their seven children. He raised his children to be athletic, studious, hardworking, and quick with a joke. His devotion as a father cannot be overstated as he loved each of his children collectively and as individuals. His greatest pride was found in their accomplishments.
Later in life, Joe and Margaret lived for a brief time in Jefferson City, MO, where they made fond memories with lifelong friends.
Joe's generosity to his fellow man will be unmeasured due to his wishes that his charitable pursuits remain private. Even his children will never know how many lives Joe has touched or the names of all those lucky enough to receive one of his acclaimed letters.
In addition to his wife, Margaret, Joe is preceded in death by his three siblings, Tom, James, and Aurelia. Joe is survived by his seven children, twelve grandchildren, and his great-grandson.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Joseph's Catholic School in Manhattan, IL, Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City, MO, or The BackStoppers in St. Louis, MO.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 23 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with a brief Memorial Service from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Ortmann-Stipanovich Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, MO 63141.
A second visitation will be held on Saturday, October 25 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, 507 S. State St., Manhattan, IL 60442, followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:30 am at St. Joseph's Church, 255 W. North St., Manhattan, IL 60442. He will be laid to rest and reunited with Margaret at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Manhattan, IL 60442.