Joseph Francis McCarthy

Joseph (Joe) McCarthy, Age 73, of Elmhurst, IL (most recently Bloomington, MN) passed away on September 26, 2025. He was known for his inquisitive nature and his kind and generous heart, especially with family and friends. He was a man of varied interests, most notably construction, music, history, art, outdoor recreation, and foreign cultures & cuisines. He demonstrated an endless quest for knowledge and was a lifelong learner, relentlessly seeking to further his knowledge on all topics through reading, travel, and in-depth conversations that always contained many detailed questions. Joe was a devoted father, husband, friend, and business owner, which fostered and contributed to his many successes. For over 30 years, he owned a commercial construction company, JF McCarthy Construction, which specialized in the design, construction, and remodel of numerous projects, including veterinary clinics and kidney dialysis centers. He took great pride in building healthcare centers and was proud to play an important role in the success of his clients’ businesses. One of his proudest accomplishments was authoring and publishing two construction management textbooks, which were the second-best sellers in their category. Founding the annual “McCarthy Mauler” (the McCarthy family reunion) and serving as its “race director” demonstrated his love for family, his competitive spirit, and his appreciation that love can be shown through friendly, familial competition. Joe’s greatest accomplishment and joy was his family. He took great pride in being a father, even stating that fatherhood made his life complete, and was thrilled to bestow knowledge onto the next generation. His children remember him fondly as someone who provided unwavering support and love, believed in their potential, and encouraged & assisted them in all of their pursuits. Joe was always eager to help family, friends, and professional colleagues succeed by imparting wisdom, professional guidance, as well as sincere, thoughtful advice, drawn from his own professional career and personal experiences. He had a love for biking, skiing, sailing, reading, and hosting dinners to bring friends and family together. He joins his father, Edmund Jerome (Jerry), and his mother, Joanne (Eggleston), in eternal life. He is survived by his children, Tom McCarthy and Katie (Tom McGrath) McCarthy, former wife Janet (Holl), and siblings, John (Sue, partner) McCarthy, Kathleen (Robin) Childress, Mary Ellen Zang, Carol (Will) Hodgman, Tom (Anne) McCarthy, Anne (Bill, deceased) Yost, Barbara (Steve) Plunkett, and many nieces and nephews. A wake will be conducted on October 26, 2025 from 4:15-8pm at the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Oak Brook, IL and Memorial Mass will be held on October 27, 2025 at 10am at Visitation Church in Elmhurst, IL.

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