Joseph W. Tolson ‘56, of Syracuse, Ind., passed away at noon Monday (July 17, 2023). He was born March 12, 1934, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, the son of Joseph John Tolson and Isabel Mae Erzinger Tolson. His parents preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were a brother, William Erzinger Tolson; and a cousin, George Tolson Searls. Joseph graduated from Kankakee High School in 1952. He graduated from Culver Military Academy Summer Naval School in 1952. Joseph graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington in 1956, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He graduated from the Illinois Savings & Loan Institute in 1962. Joseph served our country in the U.S. Navy as a Yeoman 3rd Class from 1956 to 1962 and served active duty two years aboard the USS Edmonds Destroyer Escort 406. He worked as a loan officer for 1st Federal Savings & Loan in Des Plaines, from 1959 to 1965. Joseph was Vice President and Director of State Savings & Loan in Kankakee, from 1965 to 1974. Then, he was President and Director of Kankakee County Title & Trust in Kankakee, from 1974 to 1984. Joseph was an instructor with the Illinois Savings & Loan Institute’s Kankakee Chapter. He was Director of City National Bank. Joseph was also owner of Court House Title Service in Kankakee, from 1984 to 1996. 

He was also the owner of First Title Service in Kankakee, from 1986 to 1996. Joseph married Patricia Macy Tolson on Aug. 23, 1958, at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Surviving are his wife, Patricia Macy Tolson, of Syracuse, Ind. Joe and Pat met at IWU and would’ve been married for 65 years on August 23, 2023.; daughter, Barbara Elisabeth Tolson, of Sarasota, Fla.; son, David Joseph Tolson, of Tucson, Ariz.; and nieces, Julianne Tolson Flores, of San Francisco, Calif., and Sarah Tolson Kim, of San Francisco, Calif. Joseph was a member of the United Methodist Church. He had been chairman of the Kankakee County Board. Joseph was the past president of Rotary International, Kankakee. While a member for 38 years, he had perfect attendance. He was also a member of the Elks; The Round Table Club; a life member of Sigma Chi Fraternity; a member the Blue Key National Honor Society; a member of the Union League Club of Chicago for 50 years; chairman of Riverside Medical Center Samaritans for three years; and chairman of the United Way of Kankakee budget committee.