Joseph "Joe" Virant

Peoria- Joseph "Joe" Virant, age 94, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2023 in his home surrounded by his wife, daughters, and a granddaughter.
Joe started his very full life in a hospital in Ljubljana, Slovenia, February 21, 1929 with his mother, Anna Virant Pestl. Joe's adventure-filled childhood included narrowly escaping a snake bite as an infant when out in the fields with his mother working nearby, human catapulting using tall pine trees in the Julian alps, and saving his injured arm with a poultice of warm milk and bread,
At the age of eleven, Joe was forced to leave Slovenia with his mother, sister, and one brother due to the hostilities between then-Yugoslavia and Germany. Finding home and hope in Austria, Joe eventually developed talent as a truck driver. While driving in the Alps, Joe witnessed many accidents and even occasional deaths, but prided himself on his heavy equipment operating skills and perfect driving record.
In December of 1956, Joe was granted a VISA to come to the United States. Although he arrived with only $46, zero English skills, and false promises for a job and place to live, he was determined to stay and make Peoria his new home. On his first social outing he met a beautiful lady, his future wife Hilde dressed as an angel for a Christmas pageant.
Hilde and Joe married September 27, 1958, and bought their first house in the East Bluff of Peoria for $9000. They brought home two daughters of whom he was endlessly proud, Rosemary in 1959, and Dorothy in 1964. Joe supported his family with many jobs, including a car rental porter, parking lot attendant and later owner, a warehouse worker at Super Valu, and finally a machinist at Caterpillar, from which he retired after more than 20 years with the company.
Family, friends, and neighbors often appreciated Joe's extensive skills in all things mechanical, including plumbing, electrical, carpentry, automotive, landscaping, and painting. He was a perfectionist, and frequently told helpers to "Pay attention! I can't tell you all the time."
His five grandchildren always delighted him, particularly when they participated in sports (soccer and baseball-GO CUBS-especially), or musical activities. He was immensely proud of them, often babysat them, and endlessly told them in various ways how important they were to him.
Joe was an active and influential member of the Peoria area soccer community, acting as founder, player, coach, and later referee. Joe also kept busy participating in the German Central Society and loved singing in the Harmonie with them. He was a longtime active member of the local Slovenian club, KSKJ, as well as a participant in the HOA for the second and final home he and Hilde owned for 52 years. He also served as a local election judge and never took his privilege for granted, voting in every election since gaining citizenship in 1961.
After retirement, Joe loved traveling with his wife, family, and friends. Whether boating, camping, cruising, group tours or just visiting family, he was always ready to go. He also never stopped tinkering with his tools, most recently building risers for a table for his beloved granddaughter to use just this past Christmas.
Joe left the world as he lived in it: with everything prepared for his wife and on his terms with his beloved family.
He was preceded in death by his mother Anna Pestl, his father Anton Zuzak, and brothers Otto, Siegfried and Arnold Pestl.
He is survived by his wife Hilde, daughters Rosemary (Joseph) Murphy, Dorothy (John) Carter, grandchildren Jacqueline, Julianna, Cara, Emily, and Jakob, one sister, Maria Stahl, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Resurrection Mausoleum from 9:30 AM until time of funeral service at 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Father Stephen Willard will officiate, and burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery.
Preferred memorials in Joe's memory may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Kidney Fund.
Friends and family are encouraged to log onto www.wrightandsalmon.com to sign the online guestbook, submit photos and share Joe's memorial page via social media.
Funeral arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Wright & Salmon Mortuary. (309-688-4441)