Joan M. Story Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Joan M. Story of Delaware, Ohio (previously of Algonquin and Huntley, Illinois), died on Monday, June 25, 2022, at age 95. Her son Doug was with her when she passed. She is survived by her daughter Roberta Ruge of Cape Coral Florida and son Douglas Story (Cathryn) of Columbus, OH; grandchildren Nicole Hirsch (Rob), Gregory Peterson (Candice Vstuyf), Matthew Story (Beth), Daniel Story and Aislinn Gerlach (Manoel); and great-grandchildren Elayna Hirsch, Jackson Bentz, Reis Peterson, George Peterson, Randy Peterson, Caleb Gerlach, Tyler Gerlach and Hannah Story. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Eugenia (née Hamilton) Mills, and her husband, Wayne G. Story. Born on March 6, 1927, in Evanston, Illinois, Joan was the only child of Donald J. and Eugenia Hamilton Mills. She graduated from Evanston High School and later from Carleton College in Northfield, MN. Soon after college, she went on an extended tour of post-WWII Europe and Great Britain. That experience stayed with her for the rest of her life not just because of the great beauty and glorious food, but also because of the horrific scars that had been left by the war. Joan worked as an English teacher and later as an editor of textbooks at Scott Foresman in Chicago. After her marriage to Wayne Story and subsequent move to Algonquin, IL, she worked for many years in various capacities in his quilting and workroom business. While raising her 2 children in Algonquin, she immensely enjoyed her bridge club and the close-knit neighborhood. She also enjoyed making quilts out of scrap fabrics for many friends and family. Joan will be remembered by her family and friends for her love and support of animals and animal causes as well as the arts in many forms. She was a member of the Barrington (Illinois) United Methodist Church Chancel Choir for decades, and greatly enjoyed classical and choral music. She also dearly loved the city of Chicago and all of its beautiful architecture and wonderful food: truly one of the greatest moments of her life came when, at the age of 89, she witnessed her beloved Chicago Cubs win the World Series. Joan’s legacy can be easily seen in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There you will find readers and book lovers (until about three years ago, she read the newspaper and did the crossword every day, as well as reading Time Magazine and a novel every week), writers, musicians, animal lovers, educators and people with great senses of humor. She delighted in finding typographical errors in publications and for years would cut them out and include them with cards for various occasions. In recent years, her children and grandchildren have been sending the same back to her along with horrible puns and the always-popular misplaced quotation marks. She was so proud of all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and enjoyed seeing them as often as possible. There will be a small service at 11:00 on August 13 at the Barrington United Methodist Church columbarium. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to animal support organizations, arts support organizations or her daughter’s non-profit organization, Glio Support Association, in Memory of Peter D. Ruge. The family would like to thank The Inn at Olentangy Trail, First Community Village and Willow Brook Christian Village for the care and attention she received over the past 16 months.

Joan M. Story

March 6, 1927 - June 27, 2022