Joseph O. Rubinelli, age 97, loving husband of Mary Jane Rubinelli for over sixty years and devoted father of Joseph O. Rubinelli, Jr.; faithful son of the late Calogero and Santa Rubinelli and brother of the late Mario (Christene) Rubinelli and Santina B. Rubinelli; fond brother-in-law of Joseph A. (Bettina) Saccone, Jr., Gloria A. (Stephen) Morrall and Richard A. (Joan) Saccone, and cherished uncle to many nieces and nephews; and beloved friend of Michael M. Minieka.

Joe Rubinelli was born in Chicago and graduated from DePaul University Law School. He interrupted the beginning of his legal career to enlist in the U.S. Army, serving his country honorably as a paratrooper in Europe during World War II. Returning to Chicago after WWII, Joe resumed his legal career in private practice, where he met his future wife, also an attorney. In the 1950s, Joe joined the office of the Attorney General for the State of Illinois as an Assistant Attorney General. He became Chief of the Inheritance Tax Division, serving under several Illinois Attorneys General of both political parties, until he left public service in the mid-1970s. He and his wife went into private practice together, specializing in probate and estate planning, and later became affiliated as counsel to Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. Throughout his legal career, Joe was highly regarded for his integrity, judgment and courtesy.

Joe Rubinelli served for many years as a director of Mazza Foundation, a Chicago grant-making charity, and as director of several for-profit corporations. Joe was an avid golfer and a former member of Butterfield Country Club in Oak Brook, Illinois. He was a distinguished and longstanding member of many legal and fraternal organizations, including President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers and District Commander of the American Legion, and a lifelong supporter of many Catholic organizations and causes. Joe was a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, an ancient papal order awarded for service to the Roman Catholic Church.

Joe Rubinelli died peacefully at home on April 19, 2014, surrounded by his family and his loving and dedicated caregiver Angelito Nacorda.

Visitation at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, at Assumption Church, 323 W. Illinois Street, Chicago, followed by Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment private at All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Mary's Home, 2325 N. Lakewood Ave., Chicago, IL 60614-3112, http://www.littlesistersofthepoorchicago.org/ , which provides extraordinary care for the elderly poor of Chicagoland. For further information please contact Michalik Funeral Home, 312-421-0936.