Joseph "D.P. Joe" Willet

OTTAWA -- Joseph "D.P. Joe" Willet, 56, of Ottawa, died Friday, Sept. 19, at Ottawa Regional Hospital and Healthcare Center. Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ottawa Funeral Home with the Rev. Lourduraj Ignatius officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Cremation rites will be accorded following the funeral service. Mr. Willet was born March 27, 1952, in Ottawa, to LaVern and Theresa (Tershowski) Willet. He married Lori Smith on Aug. 31, 1979, at St. Mary's Church in Naplate. The Willet family owned and operated the Dr. Pepper plant from 1933 to 2001. Joe currently worked at Marseilles Agrium as an operator. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Moose Lodge, Ducks Unlimited, Ottawa River Rescue Squad and also was a volunteer at the Naplate Fire Department. Survivors include his wife, Lori Willet; one daughter, Stacy (Lin Gabehart) Willet of Marseilles; one son, Aaron (Kathryn) Willet of Ottawa; two sisters, Pamela Willet and Mary (Don) Woodyer, both of Ottawa; one brother, Bill (Madeline) Willet of Coal City; and his mother, Theresa Willet of Ottawa. He was preceded in death by his father, LaVern Willet.