Joseph Cross

Joseph Alan “Joe” Cross, age 28, of Browning, Illinois and formerly of Mt. Sterling, Illinois passed away at 9:05 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2020 at Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville, Illinois from injuries sustained in a side by side ATV accident which occurred in rural Schuyler County.

He was born January 29, 1992 in Quincy, Illinois the son of William Alan and Angela Lynn Hollembeak Cross.  

Joseph was a crane operator and diver for the United States Army Corps of Engineers based out of Peoria, Illinois.  

He attended St. Mary's School and graduated from Brown County High School with the class of 2010, where he was known as a stand out football player having earned a 2009 Class 1A All State selection. Joe also graduated from Illinois Central College in Peoria, with an associate’s degree. 

He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Mt. Sterling.  

Joe was a true outdoorsman who always enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating.  He truly loved the time spent with his family and many friends. 

Survivors include his fiancee, Allie Schenk and her daughter Hensley, who he loved as his own, of Browning.  His parents Bill and Angie Cross of Mt. Sterling. 1 sister Hannah Cross (Jason Feltoon) of Austin, Texas. 1 nephew Eric Feltoon of Austin, Texas.  His paternal grandparents Jeanette Freitag of Mt. Sterling and George Cross of Versailles. Allie’s parents Kathy Moore and Andy Schenk both of Rushville, Illinois.  5 aunts Janie Forkin (Dan), Tammy Rabe (Marvin), Lisa Beardon, Julie Wort (Trent) and Sherry Perry (Steve) also survive along with numerous cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Theodore “Ted” and Elizabeth “Betty” Hollembeak and paternal grandfather Bob Freitag.

We know that Joe deserves a beautiful tribute and understand that under normal circumstances many friends would love to attend.  But sadly due to the current health situation and under the directions of the local health department the funeral services are to be conducted with only immediate family members in attendance. 

Friends are encouraged to watch Joe’s funeral services streaming live at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, 2020 on the funeral home website at hendrickerfuneralhome.com. 

We also encourage the community to leave a condolence or remembrance on the website for the family. 

There will be no visitation at this time, but a celebration of life will be held at a later date.  

Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s School or the Hensley Hopps Education Fund and may be left or mailed to the Hendricker Funeral Home, 406 South Capitol Avenue, Mt. Sterling, IL 62353.  

The Hendricker Funeral Home in Mt. Sterling is in charge of the arrangements. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph Cross, please visit our floral store.