Thespian, Minister, Lake Forest Resident Lived a Full Life

A former minister who was also acted on stage and was a member of the Illinois Arts Council, Joseph "Joe" Dye, 83, of died April 19.

Born July 13, 1928 in Anderson, Ind., Dye was a farmboy whose family raised beef cattle and he was active in the 4-H Club. A graduate of Indiana University, Harvard Law School, and the Chicago Theological Seminary, Dye also served as an officer in the Air Force.

Dye initially practiced labor law with Baker & Daniels in Indianapolis, and later with the Borg Warner Corp. in Chicago.

In 1983, he became a United Church of Christ minister after completing divinity school. He served churches as both a called pastor in Boynton Beach, Fla., and in Barrington, RI, and as an interim pastorat  a number of Chicago area churches. At the same tim, he led numerous church tours of Scotland, England, China, Austria, and Germany.

For 20 years, he acted and directed as a member of the Theatre of Western Springs. He was also a member of the Illinois Arts Council. In the past few years, Dye was an active member of the and a member of the Sanctuary Choir.

Dye is survived by his wife, Sue Conolly Dye, and four children, Frances Minchew, Janet Magee (Steve), Joseph “Jay” Dye, and Candace Etzler (Emil), two stepchildren, John Conolly (Sandra), and Suzanne Myers (Mike), seven grandchildren, Matthew, Megan, Joseph, Charlie, Mark, Eli, and Kari, one great grandchild, Jason, and his former wife Sally Dye of Boynton Beach, Fla. He was preceded in death by his grandson Jason.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. June 9 at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lake Forest Open Lands Association (www.lfola.org), 350 N. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045 or to the 700 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045.

For more information, visit in Lake Forest or call (847) 234-0022.