Joseph Southerland

A life so beautifully lived, deserves to be beautifully remembered. Joseph Southerland, 48, of Rockford, passed away on August 11, 2022, in his home surrounded by his loving wife and family after succumbing to his medical diagnosis. He was born on February 9, 1974, at St. Peter’s Hospital in New Brunswick NJ. He graduated from Franklin High School in Frankl, NJ in 1991. Joey married Missy on January 27, 2001, in North Brunswick, NJ. After moving to Rockford, IL, in early 2017, he quickly found his place in his new community as he worked as the local handyman where everybody loved him and considered him family where he did maintenance work, carpentry, drywall repair, flooring installations, house turnovers, etc. If you know Joey, then you know his favorite pastime was cooking and hanging out with his wife and three children. He also loved taking care of his best reptile friend, his chameleon Spike. He was the tool king, both literally and emotionally, who could fix anyone’s problems if it included drywall or a bad day. He was a loving husband who proved how a strong marriage can live up to the words “For better or worse, sickness and health, till death do us part.” Joey was a loving father who managed to create built-in best friends out of each one of his children with their own special bonding traditions. He would do anything to spend as much time with his family, including traveling to Las Vegas and Orlando for his son Jorden’s gaming competitions. He also enjoyed their family trips to  Sinnissippi Park , the Snow Park at Alpine, Williams Tree Farm during Christmas time, spending time at the Rock River watching the Ski Broncs and July 4 th  fireworks with his family, and a trip that was recently taken to Los, Angeles, California for his daughter’s school summer camp.  Joey is predeceased by his and Missy’s daughter Nina Bernice. He is survived and will be greatly missed by his wife, Missy, his children/best friends Jorden (21), Charleigh (7), and their adoptive son Chris (24), his furry friends Nozo and Nanook; Mother-in-law and Father-in-law Joan and Chris Travis; Sisters-in-law Christine (Jayson Jennings), Lara (Julian Thom); nieces and nephews Tobias, Kaleb, Mikayla, Lena, and Jasmine, as well as many other honorary family members and friends that will always love, cherish and miss him. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to his daughter Charleigh's lemonade stand, Charleigh's Hope. This lemonade stand was initially set up by his 7-year-old daughter to assist in the cost of his chemo treatments, which Charleigh aims to try to continue for other people who may need help paying for their chemotherapy. This was her way of coping and trying to find a way she could help through a child’s eyes. Please contact Lara Thom at 954-842-9773 or  larat87128@gmail.com  if you would like to donate to Charleigh’s Hope. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thank you to OSF Hospice and the team at OSF Cancer Center.  Cremation rites have been accorded by Stateline Cremation Services. A memorial service will be scheduled as soon as the family is ready. Updates on services will be provided via family members once this has been arranged.