Joseph Wilt Simmons

Urbana - Joseph W. (Joe) Simmons, 83, died peacefully on August 15, 2018. Joe was born on April 4, 1935, growing up in Riverside, IL. After high school, Joe graduated in 1957 from Hanover College, Hanover, IN. He received his master's degree in Social Work from Indiana University in 1964. Joe is survived by four daughters, Susan M. Bauer; Caroline Bender; Laura Schutte; Jennifer Jo Lucchetti; 3 grandsons; 5 granddaughters; 2 great-granddaughters; 1 great-grandson; and his close friend and companion, Beth. Joe served for over 40 years in children and family service agencies in various capacities as Executive Director of Family Service Center, Sangamon Co., Regional Director of two large state-wide agencies, and as a supervisor and investigator for the Department of Children and Family Services. He was the director of Children's Home & Aid regional office for 17 years where he initiated many new programs in child abuse/neglect and homemaker services. In 1977, Joe applied for and received a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to establish the ROUNDHOUSE; a facility serving runaway and homeless youth in Champaign Co. The ROUNDHOUSE has continued to serve youth in Champaign Co. Joe was a life long Cub fan going to his first game in 1945. As a teenager living in Chicago, he and his friends attended most of the Cubs home games during the summer months. He was also an avid Illini football and basketball fan. The family will have a Private Celebration of Life. Joe would like for memorial donations to be made to the Champaign County Humane Society.