Joan Louise Quigley

Joan Louise (Deputy) Quigley, age 89, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away peacefully Sunday, September 18, 2022 with her family present. She was born at home February 21, 1933 at home in Indianapolis, Indiana in the midst of the Great Depression, the fifth out of six children. She was raised in an environment of reading and learning; her parents having met and graduated from the University of Illinois. This began her journey as a lifelong learner. Her parents ran a newspaper and printing business in Lawrence, Indiana where all the children shared responsibilities with publishing the Lawrence Journal, a weekly paper. She graduated from Lawrence High School at the age of 17, and was starting her second year at Purdue when the love of her life was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. She married William “Bill” Earl Quigley on June 29, 1951, at the Chapel of Camp Gordon, Augusta Georgia. They raised four children, and had celebrated 67 years of marriage in 2018.

Joan moved to the Chicago area when her husband was transferred and promoted by AT & T. Joan returned to college and graduated with a degree in teaching, certified both in special education and elementary grades. She was a self-employed tutor/teacher in the Ottawa Area for years. She wrote short articles in the Write Team column for the Ottawa Times, carrying on the writing tradition in the family newspaper business. She was a member of various book clubs, and the Bridges Forever Fit Club. She also enjoyed traveling, and telling stories highlighting her trips, such as to Great Britain and Israel. She also shared stories from life experiences of childhood such as her father losing his job, the family being evicted from their home, and having a garden of necessity during the Depression. Joan was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa, was strong in her faith, and enjoyed Bible Study classes. Her family will miss her tall tales, quick-witted humor and loving hugs.

The last surviving sibling, she was preceded in death by her parents Robert Maurice (1984) and Ruth Vose (1999) Deputy, her husband William Earl Quigley, Jr (2019)and her son Daniel P. Quigley (2017). She is survived by her daughters Chris Benson (Rex) and Linda Quigley; daughter-in-law Betty Quigley; son Michael (Barbara) Quigley; 6 grandchildren: Stephanie Benson, Nicholas Benson, Christopher (Lindsay) Quigley, Alyson Quigley, Meghan Kluth, and Gwen Quigley; and two great-grandchildren Lily and Will Quigley.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 pm Sunday, September 25, 2022 at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home in Ottawa IL with Pastor David Ufkes officiating. Prior to the services, a visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Burial will be a private ceremony at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband. Memorials may be made to PAWS in honor of her love for 4-legged orphans, including family pups Missy I, Missy II, Missy III and Tom, the neighborhood cat that adopted her.