Joan Steenhausen

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – Joan Steenhausen of Crystal Lake, Ill., passed away Oct. 22, 2012, with her sisters by her side. She was born May 25, 1953, in Chicago, Ill., to John Raymond and Mary Somers Steenhausen. She spent her youth in Indiana, graduating from Warsaw Community High School in 1971. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1974 and a master’s degree from Ball State University in 1976. Always a caring, compassionate, loving person, she dedicated her life to helping children with special needs. She began her 35-year career in special education as a speech-language pathologist. Throughout her career as a teacher, administrator and finally as a special education supervisor at the School District 300 deLacey Family Education Center, Carpentersville, she positively impacted the lives of innumerable children, families and colleagues. She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews who love her very much. Surviving are her parents; her sisters: Mary Ann (and spouse Dave) Creighton; Nancy (and spouse Scott) Schmutzler; Susie (and spouse Jim) Allen; and Ellie (Christopher) Clapp; a brother, Jack (and spouse Meredith) Steenhausen; her nieces, Kate (and spouse Lucas) Schmutzler Collins and Chandler and Ellison Dew; her nephews, Richie (and spouse Cyndie) Robison; Ben Schmutzler; and Sam and Will Clapp; and her great-nephew, Harley Robison. Services were Friday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Crystal Lake. Inurnment was private. A memorial calling was Thursday at Davenport Family Funeral Home, Crystal Lake, Ill. A funeral mass was held Friday, October 26, 2012, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Crystal Lake. ***** Joan requested that memorials be made to the District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Please visit the District 300 website www.d300foundation.org/donations.html or mail contributions to the Joan Steenhausen Memorial Fund D300 Foundation, 300 Cleveland Ave, Carpentersville, IL 60110. Condolences may be sent via www.davenportfamily.com or call 815-459-3411, for information.