Joel B. McCabe

Visitation for Joel B. McCabe, 72, of Palatine, will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of the Funeral Service at 12 Noon on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Hwy., Palatine. The Interment will be private. Family and friends will be able to stream the funeral at this link: View Mr. McCabe's Funeral Service.

Joel was born on July 15, 1952, to John and Frances McCabe. He passed away on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

Joel B. McCabe passed away surrounded by his family on September 26, 2024, at the Ascension Alexian Brothers Hospital, Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Joel was born July 15, 1952, at West Suburban Hospital, Oak Park, Illinois to John and Frances McCabe. Joel grew up in Oak Park and Wheaton Illinois. He attended Hawthorne Elementary School, Franklin Jr. High, Wheaton North and Taylor County High School. Joel completed his education in trade school and apprenticeship to become a Tool and Die Engineer.

Joel was the 6th of 7 siblings. From an early age, Joel was one of those “left-handed brainiacs,” and throughout his life he showed an aptitude for engineering and mechanics. While in junior high school, Joel, his parents and youngest brother moved to Campbellsville, KY for 11 months and then to North Hollywood, CA. While in Kentucky he helped to deliver and install church steeples and rumor has it, even drove for a little moonshine operation, traversing the backroads of central Kentucky. 

Joel met a beautiful and excited-by-life woman named Patricia Ann Long on a Greyhound bus back to the West Coast. They married in Palatine, Illinois on May 13, 1973, and stayed to raise their three children. He and Patricia later divorced.

Joel lived hard and loved hard. His unique disposition and sharp wit either pulled people towards him or let them know where they stood (and sometimes, both at the same time).

Joel began to struggle with his health in the early 2000’s, but he rarely let it slow him down. When he wasn’t working hard at Bingaman Precision, his mechanical brilliance led to varied and adventurous pursuits throughout his life, including aviation, mechanics, automobile racing, and even truck driving.

In addition to his wit, Joel had a good ear. He loved all kinds of music and, like many things in his life, found it most satisfying at full blast. Joel found time to stay on top of politics, restore two beautiful Chevy trucks, stay loyal to his beloved Bears and White Sox and keep tabs on all his friends at The Donkey Inn, Palatine.

Joel is the loving father of Adam (Anna) McCabe, Laura (Michael Eldridge) McCabe, Kimberly (Joshua) Portillo; cherished grandfather of Ella and Allison Portillo; dear brother of Tom (Jane) McCabe, Martha Wilber, Tim (Patti) McCabe, and Jeffrey (Helen) McCabe; brother-in-law of Mary McCabe and the uncle of many nieces and nephews and their children.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Jim McCabe, and his sister, Mary Lee Alfaro.