Joseph E. Pearl, 72 of Cahokia, Ill. born Oct. 25, 1923 in Jonesboro, Ill., died Sunday July 14, 1996 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville,Ill.

He was retired from Illinois Central RR, member of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, VFW Post 1699, American Legion Post 784 all of Cahokia; and a Army Veteran.

He was preceded in death by his parents Adam A. and Effie nee Turner Pearl, two brothers, Samuel T. Pearl and Orville (Dee) Pearl, two sisters, Isabelle Kelley and Diane Kleiner.

Surviving are his wife, Helen Pearl, nee Nagel, three sons, Joseph W. Pearl of Cahokia, Ill., Richard Pearl of Waterloo, Ill, and Gerald (Victoria) Pearl of Florissant, Mo.; two daughers, Barbara Bayless of Nashville, Tenn, and Karen(David) Blickenstaff of Manchester, Mo.; a brother John Pearl of Cahokia, Ill.,' a sister Martha Coroney of St. Louis, Mo.; eight grandchildren,two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at Braun Colonial Feneral Home in Cahokia, Ill., Burial will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery inf St.Louis, Mo.