Joseph R. MONKS

MONKS Joseph R. Joseph Richard Monks, Jr., 88, was born September 4, 1921 in Alton, Illinois, the only son of four children born to Joseph R., Sr. and Margaret (Serf) Monks. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Cecilia (Springman); four sons, Joseph M. of Toledo, James (Nadine) of Canon City, CO, Thomas (Carol) of Denver, CO, and Edwin Tod (Kathleen) of Albuquerque, NM; two daughters, Anne Monks of Madison, WI, and Georgia Hillyer (Bart) of Belleville, IL; five grand-children, Patricia (Robert) Borger of Perrysburg; Jeffrey Monks of Madison, WI, Colleen Monks of Chicago, IL, Wade Hillyer of Belleville, IL, and Jada Monks of Albuquerque; two great-grandchildren, Robert and Megan Borger of Perrysburg; brothers-in-law, Thomas Innocenzi of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, and Charles (Carol) Springman of Tyler, Texas; sisters-in-law, Margaret (Elmer) Kerkemeyer of Collinsville, IL; Eulalia (Leo) Green of Godfrey, IL, Therese Kienstra of Clayton, MO, Margie Springman of Godfrey and Dorothy Springman of Godfrey; many nephews and nieces and friends in the Alton and Toledo areas, Illinois, Missouri, California, Texas and Oklahoma and throughout the country. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Mary Clark, Gertrude Monks and Virginia Innocenzi; his father- and mother-in-law, Anthony P. and Bertha Springman and a daughter-in-law, Kathleen Monks. Mr. Monks was a graduate of Marquette High School in Alton and attended the University of Illinois, St. Louis University, Shurtleff College and Cornell University. Mr. Monks was hired as a chemist for the Owens-Illinois glass company in Alton in 1943 and worked for the company until he retired in 1983. He rose through the Glass Container Division to become Chief of Glass and Furnace Technology. He oversaw the technical operation of the company's many glass container plants. A gifted problem solver, Mr. Monks was a sought-after consultant by glass companies throughout the world. He was responsible for numerous patents in glass-making technology including the process by which bubbles were finally eliminated from bottle glass. In the years following his retirement, Mr. Monks and Mrs. Monks enjoyed traveling to visit their children and grandchildren. A memorable event was the 2003 celebration of Joseph and Cecilia's 60th wedding anniversary at Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Illinois. As a young man Mr. Monks decided to become a Jesuit priest. But then he met Cecelia Springman, the great love of his life, and sister of his best friend, Aloysius Springman. Joseph and Cecilia were married at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Alton in 1944. They had three children in Alton and then the family moved to Toledo in 1955 when Owens-Illinois moved its Tech Center headquarters to Toledo. Three more children were born in Toledo. Mr. and Mrs. Monks were major supporters in the founding of Silver Creek Mill of Mascoutah, IL, a unique learning, vocational and residential program serving 65 adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Memorials may be made to Christ the King Church, 4100 Harvest Lane, Toledo, 43623, for Masses or to Alfa Foundation of Southwest Illinois, 602 S. Jefferson St., Mascoutah, IL, 62258, a non-profit dedicated to building full and abundant lives for people with developmental disabilities. A memorial Mass will take place at a later date. The family has entrusted the arrangements to the Foth - Dorfmeyer Mortuary.