‘His life set the standard for me’: Longtime Elgin volunteer Wars dies at 81
When it came to helping people in need in his community, Elgin resident Joe Wars only knew one way to answer.
“Joe always said yes we can, and never ‘no, we can’t,’” said longtime friend Janice Hare.
Wars, 81, passed away last Wednesday at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin.
His daughter said he leaves behind a legacy of helping others from as far back as she can remember.
“Whatever community we lived in, he always poured himself into it,” Stephanie Wars-Williams said.
Wars grew up in Virginia and attended Virginia State University. He married his wife Jeannette in 1964 and had a long career in sales with companies, including Sears & Roebuck. Mattel Toys, Ferry Morris Seed Company and Ron Hopkins Ford.
He was a past president of the national chapter of Black Jaycees while living in Virginia. He later became a lifetime member of the local chapter in Elgin after moving to the city in 1976. Wars also served on the board of directors of the Elgin Boys and Girls Club as well as on the Elgin Human Relations Commission and the city’s Image and Advisory Committee.
In 2017, he received Elgin’s Dr. King Legacy Award and was named the honorary chairperson of the 2023 Crop Hunger Walk.
Elgin Mayor David Kaptain said Wars’ loss will be felt in the community, especially regarding the city’s annual MLK food drive that Wars chaired since its inception in 2011.
“He was very proud of the fact that it kept growing every year,” Kaptain said. “He left a great legacy, and I hope somebody picks it up.”
Wars-Williams said Christmas was her dad’s favorite time of year. He spent many years dressing as Santa Claus and delivering gifts to children, spending the holiday in the hospital with his daughter in tow as his elf helper. Then he’d help deliver gifts from the Salvation Army to families in the area.
“I’m trying to follow in his footsteps, but it’s big shoes to fill,” she said. “His life set the standard for me as to what I need to do in the world.”
Danise Habun, a longtime friend who served with Wars on the Human Relations Commission and worked with him on projects like the International Festival and the MLK celebration, said he was warm and welcoming to everyone he met.
“He embodied a certain gentility,” Habun said. “Joe had a huge impact on everybody he came in contact with.”
Hare said Wars had already been working on next year’s food drive and had set a goal of collecting 50 tons of food.
“He set his goal high, but we’re well on our way,” Hare said. “It’s a lot of food, but there’s a lot of need and Joe never closed his eyes to the needs of anyone.”
Laird Funeral Home in Elgin is handling the arrangements. The funeral will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Second Baptist Church in Elgin. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. The burial will follow at Bluff City Cemetery.
It was Wars’ wish that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Elgin MLK Food Drive.
“He really made an impact on the city,” Kaptain said. “I’ve known him for almost 20 years, and he always had a smile on his face, and you never heard a bad word about him from anybody. I think he was just a nice guy, and maybe that’s all that anybody should ask for.”