Joe Van McCoskey

Joe Van McCoskey, 90 of Hindsboro, IL passed away at 9:00 A.M. on Friday, August 22, 2025, at his home.

Funeral service will be held at 12:00 P.M. (Noon) on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main Street in Arcola, IL. Rev. Gary Livesay will officiate. Burial will be in the VanVoorhis Cemetery in Rural Hindsboro, IL. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. (Noon) before the funeral on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Joe was born on July 22, 1935, in Hindsboro at the VanVoorhis Homestead, a son of Russell Elza and Juanita Amanda (VanVoorhis) McCoskey. He married Sue Montgomery on July 3, 1953, at the Methodist Church in Hindsboro, IL.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Sue; three daughters, Martie (Larry) Miller of Hindsboro, IL, Lena (Kenny) Hettinger of Hindsboro, IL, and Loretta (John) Fishel of Arcola, IL; nine grandchildren, Erin (Jared) Hemingway of Hindsboro, IL, Joe (Andrea) Miller of Eureka, IL, Elisha (Trent) Anderson of Lebanon, TN, Jess (Ryan) Petty of Oakland, IL, Jackie (Jeremy) Gardner of Tuscola, IL, John (Allison) Fishel IV of Sugar Grove, IL, Torrie (Rob) Kosic of Arcola, IL, James Fishel of Arcola, IL, and Sophia (Jacob) Gober of Charlette, NC; twenty great-grandchildren, Emersyn, Haden, and Regan Hemingway, Preston, Duke, and Harry Miller, Tucker and Tate Anderson, Ross and Jase Petty, Alyx and Ky Gardner, Aubrey, Colette and Emilia Fishel, Robert, George, Charles, Vivan, and Rosemary Kosic; one sister, Ann Livesay of Mattoon, IL and a sister-in-law, Margie McCoskey of Rural Humboldt, IL.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jack McCoskey, and his brother-in-law, Carroll Livesay.

Joe graduated from Oakland High School in 1953 where he excelled on the football field. He was selected as an All-State Guard by the All-State Board.

Joe started digging graves by hand when he was 16 years old - he was taught by his dad, Elzy and his uncle Jim McCoskey. Joe would go on digging graves and maintaining cemeteries in the area for over 66 years. Joe was also a farmer and loved taking care of the ground and livestock, but he always found a way to supplement the farming with new ventures. He worked at USI in Tuscola, for a few years, then at FS. He purchased The McCoskey Grocery and Meat store in Hindsboro and ran it with his family for several years. Joe replaced several bridges as the Bowdre Township road commissioner to improve the roads for farmers. He also started his own trucking business, hauling grain and coal for many years. Joe was never afraid to try something new.

He was a member of the Hindsboro Methodist Church, the EVCA, Embarrass Valley Coal Association, an organization he helped start and saw through. He served as Bowdre Township Road Commissioner, and later he served on the Bowdre Township Board, the VanVoorhis Cemetery Board, and the Douglas County Soil and Water Conservation Board.

Joe loved his family! He always enjoyed keeping up with all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, going to their activities, ball games, and simply just being where they were.