Joseph Ray Karlovic

Joseph Ray Karlovic December 29, 1949 – February 21, 2026

Joseph Ray Karlovic, 76, of Mount Olive, Illinois, quietly took “one more for the road” on February 21, 2026.

Born on December 29, 1949, to Henry and Velma (Boston) Karlovic, Joe proudly served in the United States Army, worked for many years at the Shell Refinery, and remained a proud and dedicated union member. He served his community first as a School Board member and later as its President, then went on to contribute his steady Democratic judgment to the county property tax board. In retirement, he dealt blackjack, where he found good company, better stories, and a cast of characters that provided plenty of both.

Joe married Martha (Albers) Karlovic on November 10, 1973, and together they spent more than five decades building a family, collecting stories, and enjoying plenty of porch conversations. He was a proud father to Eric (Stacey) Karlovic and Joyce Braasch, and an even prouder grandfather to Nicholas Braasch, Lily Braasch, Charlie Karlovic, Darby Braasch, Brooke Braasch, and Henry Karlovic.

His grandchildren knew him best for “the handshake,” a ritual equal parts generosity and initiation. Mount Olive, meanwhile, knew him as the unofficial and entirely self-appointed trash can monitor. If something was out of place, Joe noticed. And if Joe noticed, you were going to hear about it.

He possessed a well-documented devotion to Notre Dame football, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the perennial sport of criticizing the St. Louis Cardinals. For Joe, the greatest day in sports history was October 15, 1988. Seated with his father and his son in the south end zone at Notre Dame Stadium, he watched the Catholics overtake the Convicts. On the drive home, he listened as Kirk Gibson delivered his improbable home run to win Game 1 for the Dodgers. It was, in his view, a day arranged by Providence.

Providence would make a more personal appearance on August 28, 2018, at Oak Brook Golf Course. Playing alongside Dave Michalik, Ron Mueller, and Bob Sanvi, Joe recorded a hole-in-one. By all available accounts and unlike his accomplishments on the gridiron and the diamond, it remained an achievement that required no embellishment.

Beyond stadiums and scoreboards, Joe preferred the open road. He and Martha logged miles across the United States. He was particularly drawn to the Grand Canyon, whose scale, beauty, and permanence seemed to continually amaze him. Before he retired from air travel, however, he also made regular trips to Cancun. Between sun and cocktails, he quietly refined what can only be described as impeccable Macarena form. It was a skill few knew about but was deployed with enthusiasm and precision.

He loved dogs, especially Tramp, Bernie, Dolly, and Hoss; Willie Nelson; bourbon on the porch; and harassing his friend Steve Augustine on Facebook with the persistence of a man who understood both sport and timing. To his favorite bourbon group he was simply “Uncle Joe,” and

he rarely allowed a gathering to end without his signature line: “Let’s have one more for the road.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Velma Karlovic; his sister, Mary Ann “Toots” Scheller; her husband, Bud Scheller; and his niece, Jolene Scheller.

A Celebration of Life, “One More for the Road,” will be held March 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the VFW Hall in Mount Olive. In tribute to Joe’s enduring loyalties, guests are encouraged to wear casual attire sporting Dodger blue or Notre Dame blue, gold or green. Come enjoy some food and drink. Share a story. Share a laugh. And if it feels right, raise a glass for one more for the road.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kids Café children’s program at the Mount Olive Care Center or the Mount Olive Academic Foundation, causes Joe would quietly, and approvingly, endorse.

Becker and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Anyone wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at beckerandson.com.

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