Joseph W. Madura

**In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to a charity of your choice in Joseph's name.** Joseph “Joe” William Madura, 48, of Bolingbrook died Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Morris Hospital. He was born September 30, 1968, in Berwyn, Illinois, the son of Donald and Charlene (Heerdt) Madura. He attended Downers Grove South High School, graduating with the class of 1986. Joe went on to College of DuPage and Western Illinois University, earning his Bachelor of Business in 1991, and later his MBA from North Central College in 1995. On October 22, 1994, Joe married Tracy Gothard in Savanna, Illinois, and they made their home in Bolingbrook. He was most proud of being the father of Haley, 19, and Charlie, 15, serving always as their role model, toughest critic, and loudest supporter. Joe worked hard as a project manager for several banks and institutions spanning his 25-year career. He was most recently employed at The Northern Trust in Chicago, where he took a very black and white approach to every project he served. He was the “take-charge” and the ”go-to” guy, facing all challenges head-on. In school, Joe was a swimmer, wrestler, and football player, as well as a musician, playing a variety of brass instruments and marching with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in the late 1980s. As an adult, he was a Knight of Columbus at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bolingbrook, where he was a member. Joe enjoyed traveling (his favorite question for his family being, “So where should we go on vacation?”), fishing trips, long drives with no particular destination, and cheering on his children as they perform. He also loved gambling, shooting, being a dog owner, and watching the Chicago Blackhawks, Bears, and White Sox. Joe cherished spending time with his family and friends, often laughing the loudest and longest at the stories and jokes being shared. He needed frequent reminders to use an “inside voice” and to stop shooting spitballs at his children in restaurants. If you knew him well, you probably heard a story about a bear and a rabbit being told at least once. Joe will be greatly missed by his wife, Tracy, and children, Haley and Charlie of Bolingbrook, his parents, Donald and Charlene Madura of Bristol, two sisters Sandra (Danny) Zeigler of Big Rock and Kristie Madura of Naperville, several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents. Joe was a fiercely loyal husband, father, son and friend. He was generous beyond measure, and believed life should be lived and enjoyed. Oh, and he would tell you to “Be the Bear.”