Joan S. Curtin

Joan Curtin, longtime resident of Western Spring, IL and then Kirkwood, MO died October 23, 2025 at the age of 93. Joan was born in 1932 in Algona, Iowa, as the only child of Bernice and Frank Seeley and spent her childhood in Ocala, Florida. She graduated from the University of Florida and then received her MA degree from Northern Illinois University. Her 30+ years of teaching were among her most treasured. She taught in Jacksonville, FL, in Des Moines, IA and taught business, English and ESL at Lyons Township Adult Education Program and at the College of Du Page. Later, she was coordinator of the Center for Academic Development at National Lewis University, Lombard campus, and was visiting professor in the School for New Learning at Depaul University. Joan was teaching at a US Army school in Ludwigsburg, Germany when she met her husband, Curt, and they were married in 1960. They loved traveling and developed some small group trips for Lyons Township Adult Education Program to Holland, MI, for the Tulip Festival, to Paw Paw, MI, for the Harvest and Wine Festival and to London, England, for theater. The Curtins moved to Western Springs in 1965 and their son, Bob graduated from Lyons Township High School (LTHS). Joan loved the community and her friends on the block. She enjoyed reading and was a regular at the Thomas Ford library. They were able to host a number of international exchange students who also attended LTHS. She and Curt traveled often, especially to London and Germany. Joan was a member of the Congregational Church in Western Springs, the Congregational Women’s Society, Suburban Art League, and Coterie Club. Bridge was her favorite game, but more important than bridge to her was the time spent with her family traveling or being together. Joan and Curt enjoyed their Michigan lake house and spent many happy times there, often with her son and grandchildren. They were able to move to Kirkwood, Missouri to Aberdeen Heights in 2016. Curt passed in 2018, and Joan has lived there close to her family in Webster Groves, Missouri since then. She was on the Welcome Committee and the Food Committee at Aberdeen and continued to be an avid bridge player. Joan is survived by her son, Bob, and grandchildren Mark and Sarah. A service will be held at Aberdeen Heights on Saturday, November 1 and a celebration of life in Paw Paw, MI in the summer of 2026.

Joan S. Curtin

July 27, 1932 - October 23, 2025