Joseph “Joey” Magelli was a dedicated merchant, a proud veteran, a dedicated public servant, and a legendary family prankster. He always asked his young nephews if they wanted to go with him to the tavern to “pinch the girls.” And he always promised his little nieces he’d “buy them each a pony.” He went so far as to have a pony secretly delivered to two nieces one afternoon while he was visiting. Needless to say, the girls’ parents nixed that.
Whether walking the fields of Marshall County, managing his business, or leading the city of Henry, Joey approached life with an unmatched zest for hard work, community service, and unforgettable laughter.
Early Life & Military Service
Joey was born into a close-knit and industrious Italian-American family, the son of Biagio and Mary (Mareta) Magelli. Raised with a profound sense of duty to both his family and his country, he proudly answered the call to service during the Korean War, completing a meaningful stint in the United States Navy. His time at sea and in service instilled in him a lifelong commitment to leadership, discipline, and community welfare.
Professional Legacy & Public Service
Following his honorable discharge from military service, Joey returned home to Illinois to build a multifaceted career spanning commerce, agriculture, and municipal governance:
- Magelli Brothers Grocery: As a highly skilled master butcher, Joey became a foundational co-owner of the Magelli Brothers grocery stores. He partnered directly with his brother, Pete Magelli, to own and operate their prominent location in Henry, Illinois. Behind the meat counter, his professional expertise and warm, welcoming demeanor made him an indispensable fixture of daily neighborhood life.
- IGA: Joe spent four decades working as a butcher.
- Agricultural Pursuits: Joey’s business acumen and love for the land extended into local agriculture. He co-owned and managed a successful farm alongside another of his brothers, Angel Magelli, maintaining deep, lifelong ties to the fertile Illinois landscape.
- Civic Leadership: Deeply invested in the growth, development, and well-being of his hometown, Joey entered local politics and served his fellow citizens as the Mayor of Henry, Illinois. As mayor, he brought the same practical, people-first philosophy to city hall that had long defined his success in the family business.
Outdoorsman & Personal Passions
Away from the demands of civic leadership and retail operations, Joey was a true outdoorsman who found his greatest solace and rejuvenation in nature. An avid and passionate hunter, he was rarely seen traversing the local fields without his loyal Springer Spaniel hunting dogs leading the way. To those who knew him best, Joey was instantly recognizable by a few distinctly personal trademarks—most notably his penchant for large cigars, affectionately dubbed “stogies,” which almost always accompanied him on his outdoor expeditions, farm rounds, and relaxed evening porch conversations.
Barbara “Bobbi” Doyle won his bachelor’s heart in 1978. They enjoyed a rich life together and for years hosted the annual Magelli Family Reunions at their Chillicothe, Ill., home.
Personality & Family Life
While Joey took his mayoral responsibilities and business commitments seriously, he took humor just as seriously. Possessing a razor-sharp wit and a profoundly playful spirit, he was a notorious, lifelong practical joker whose mischievous worldview spared no one:
- The Children: He took immense, infectious joy in teasing and playing elaborate, lighthearted tricks on his beloved nieces and nephews, earning an enduring reputation as the favorite, delightfully unpredictable uncle.
- The Adults: Growing older offered no protection from Joey’s radar. Adults, peers, and fellow council members were never off-limits, and he frequently delighted in keeping friends and townspeople completely on their toes.
| The Legendary Roast Prank In one of his most infamous grocery store capers, a local female customer came in to pick up a specially cut roast she had ordered. Joey meticulously wrapped up the package in standard white butcher paper and handed it over with a polite smile. It wasn’t until she proudly unwrapped the parcel in the middle of her own kitchen that she discovered Joey had secretly substituted her dinner with a frozen rat—much to her absolute horror, and his immense, lifelong delight. |
