Town honors Joe Seeley
Updated: November 12, 2012
URBANA -- People are circling around a family, and celebrating a life they say will never be forgotten. If you were involved in running or youth soccer, you knew Joe Seeley.
He passed away last month from Leukemia. Now his community is raising awareness in his honor.
The coordinator of a blood drive at University Laboratory High School expected about 30 donors. The turnout was more than twice that number. This gym was full of people willing to give as much as they can, for a man who did the same for them.
"We'd been together a long time," Jan Seeley said.
She met Joe in college. From that day on she knew they were a perfect match.
"People say he was the quiet presence behind me because I'm a little more vocal and have a bigger personality," Seeley said.
He was known in the community as the silent rock, a man involved in youth soccer and behind-the-scenes of the Christie Clinic Marathon. But then, his world was put on pause.
"He was diagnosed in early January 2011," Seeley said.
For the next 21 months, Joe fought to stay alive. But he lost his battle with Leukemia last month.
"If he didn't get transfusion every other day he would've died earlier then he did," Seeley said.
Blood donations were instrumental in keeping Joe alive as long as they did. It's why all these people showed up, to help families like the Seeley's, and be the support Jan and her sons need.
"It was a great comfort to him to know that his family would have so much support after he was gone. It's very overwhelming," Seeley said.
"People you don't even know are sending you cards and doing stuff for you. It's just really nice," Joe's son, Paul, said.
All of the outpouring of love and support, proves that this man was much more then your average Joe.
"That's a legacy we're trying to keep alive," Jan said.
"That's exactly what my dad would want. He'd want his memory to inspire other people," Paul said.
60 people donated blood Friday with the potential of saving 180 lives.The Seeley family will have a celebration of Joe's life Saturday, November 17, with a service at Faith United Methodist Church.
He passed away last month from Leukemia. Now his community is raising awareness in his honor.
The coordinator of a blood drive at University Laboratory High School expected about 30 donors. The turnout was more than twice that number. This gym was full of people willing to give as much as they can, for a man who did the same for them.
"We'd been together a long time," Jan Seeley said.
She met Joe in college. From that day on she knew they were a perfect match.
"People say he was the quiet presence behind me because I'm a little more vocal and have a bigger personality," Seeley said.
He was known in the community as the silent rock, a man involved in youth soccer and behind-the-scenes of the Christie Clinic Marathon. But then, his world was put on pause.
"He was diagnosed in early January 2011," Seeley said.
For the next 21 months, Joe fought to stay alive. But he lost his battle with Leukemia last month.
"If he didn't get transfusion every other day he would've died earlier then he did," Seeley said.
Blood donations were instrumental in keeping Joe alive as long as they did. It's why all these people showed up, to help families like the Seeley's, and be the support Jan and her sons need.
"It was a great comfort to him to know that his family would have so much support after he was gone. It's very overwhelming," Seeley said.
"People you don't even know are sending you cards and doing stuff for you. It's just really nice," Joe's son, Paul, said.
All of the outpouring of love and support, proves that this man was much more then your average Joe.
"That's a legacy we're trying to keep alive," Jan said.
"That's exactly what my dad would want. He'd want his memory to inspire other people," Paul said.
60 people donated blood Friday with the potential of saving 180 lives.The Seeley family will have a celebration of Joe's life Saturday, November 17, with a service at Faith United Methodist Church.
