Richard Joseph "Joe" Elam

Richard Joseph “Joe” Elam, 72, of Mendota, IL, passed away at 7:23 a.m. Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Allure of Mendota. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL, with Pastor Debbie Hamilton officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Stewardson Cemetery, Stewardson, IL, with a flag presentation by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Memorials may be given to the Mendota Fire Department or the Shelbyville Memorial Sunken Garden. 

Joe was born on October 15, 1952, in Effingham, IL, the son of Richard Dwight and Mildred L. (Carroll) Elam. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in the Class of 1970 and earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. Joe served his country in the United States Army and was stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War. He married Carol Marlene Thomas on September 24, 1977, and they were blessed with two children, Jennifer and Justin. Joe’s professional career in Human Resource Management led him to work for Walgreens, Del Monte Foods and Bay Valley Foods. Joe was a member of the Mendota VFW Post #4079, where he served as Post Commander in 1997. He was a devoted fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Bears. 

Joe is survived by his wife, Carol; son, Justin Elam (Nicki Lindenmier) of Austin, TX; daughter, Jennifer Billingsley (Chris) of Yorkville, IL; brother, Jeff Elam (Andrea) of Shelbyville, IL; and three grandsons, James, Andrew, and Asher Billingsley. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bub and Emily Thomas.