Joseph L. Tillman III

Joseph L. Tillman, III, age 89 passed away on August 9th, 2015 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg. He was born on September 18th, 1925 in Toledo, Ohio to Wihelmina and Joseph L. Tillman, II. As a young man Joe attended Campion Jesuit High School in Praierie Du Chien , Wisconsin. Not long after leaving Campion he joined the United States Navy as a Gunner (1943- 1946), where he proudly achieved the highest artillery scores. After attending the University of Notre Dame in 1946, Joe graduated from there in 1950 having majored in Business. He met Elizabeth Jane Johnson in 1946, they married on June 5, 1948 and together they raised 4 children. Initially employed by Unitcast as a laborer, Joe was promoted to General Manager of the Front Street and Mallard Plant. Unitcast Board Members diversified into fiberglass and plastics. As one of the pioneers in Fiberglass reinforced plastics, Joe played a huge part in building a (non-union) plant called Unit Plastics in Liberty Center, Ohio. Unitcast divisions located in Canada primarily made molding and sanding railroad products. Joe started his own business in 1967 called Glassco Plastics in Springfield, Ohio. Joe was preceded by his mother and father, Wihelmina and Joseph; his loving wife of 55 years, Jane; sisters, Jeanne Hylant Schoen and Patricia Haag and brother, Gerrald Tillman. He is survived by his children, Joseph L. Tillman IV, Toledo, Ohio, Julie A. Tillman, Toledo, Ohio, Jennifer L. Tillman, Holland, Ohio and Jeffrey E. Tillman of Edwardsburg, Michigan; Grandchildren, Joe (Duanya) Tillman, Sylvania Ohio, Kelsey N. Tillman, Toledo, Ohio; great-grandchild, Kobe M. Tillman, Sylvania Ohio; sister, Cindy Hagan of Atlanta, Georgia and brothers, Richard Tillman of San Francisco, California and William Tillman of Springfield, Ohio, as well as, numerous nieces and nephews who were involved in Joe’s life. Joe and his wife Jane adopted all four of their children from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Having paved the way for international adoptions, Joe became very proactive in assisting other families in adopting children through Catholic charities in Canada. We will be forever grateful to Bonnie Simms, and Carolyn Yanez for the outstanding care and assistance given to our father. The family will hold a celebration of Joseph’s life from 3-7 pm on Thursday, August 13th at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 South Reynolds Road, Toledo, Ohio. A Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 2255 Central Grove, Toledo, OH 43614, on Friday, August 14th, 2015 at 10 a.m. The family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 3000 E. River Road, Perrysburg, Ohio 43551.

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Joseph L. Tillman III

September 18, 1925 - August 9, 2015