Dateline: Alton, IL
Joseph Leon Perkins, 69, passed away at 7:28 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at Alton Memorial Hospital. He was born March 14, 1948 in Alton the son of the late Harry Perkins and Loretta (Tavanier) Gonzales. He was a long time ICU Nurse at various hospitals; beginning with St. Joseph's Hospital in Alton, Wood River Township Hospital, Incarnate Word Hospital in St. Louis and was retired from Alton Memorial Hospital. I was given the gift of life and now I have to give it back. This is hard, but I was a lucky man who led a lucky life and for this I am grateful. When I first got sick with CHF I decided to be joyful about having a full life rather than be sad about being sick. Amazingly, this worked for me (well you know most of the time) staying busy gardening, and shopping for antiques with the love of my life Gary Sitze, all this helped me accept what I could not change. At any rate I am at peace, an on a up beat note I have completed my journey in this life now and I will join the love of my life, my husband, Gary Sitze, my mother and father, and sister. I leave behind two brothers and four sisters, three children, Carissa Eason (Doug) of Alton, Addie Perkins (Carlo V.) of Carlinville, and Tim Perkins of East Alton, eleven grandchildren, Zachary, Abbrin (Nick), Anna, Collin, Nick, Dustin (Kiersten), Gaige, Ben, Mahala, Mika Ever, six great-grandchildren, Ashton, Evan, Eli, Zayden, Nicholas and Isabella. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until time of Memorial service at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at St. John's United Church of Christ in Brighton, IL. with Pastor Laura Crelly Burial will be at Upper Alton Cemetery. Lunch will follow the burial back at St. John's United Church of Christ. Memorials may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ. Additional information and online guest book may be found at www.gentfuneralhome .