Joanne Klueter, age 95, passed away on Monday, June 2, 2025, in Highland, Illinois. She was born on August 30, 1929, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the daughter of Rev. Adolph and Marie (nee Otto) Stoerker. She was baptized as an infant at Cheviot Westwood Evangelical Church in Cincinnati.
She was confirmed by her father at St. John E&R Church in Aurora, Illinois, as a member of the class of 1942. Following graduation from East Aurora High School in 1947 and Heidelberg College (Tiffin, Ohio) in 1951 she accepted her first position as secretary to the editor of the International Journal of Religious Education with offices located in downtown Chicago.
After two years she left that position to enter Eden Theological Seminary (Webster Groves, Missouri) to obtain her master’s degree in Christian education. During those years she met and married John H. P. Klueter on September 5, 1954, (Linton, Indiana) and together they served United Church of Christ (formerly Evangelical and Reformed) congregations for the next 40 to 50 years, mainly within the confines of Illinois.
Their son, David, was born when they lived in Ferguson, Missouri (1955). Ann (Libs) and Jean (Zay) joined the family during the following 10 years they lived in Carpentersville, Illinois. During the children’s later school years, Joanne worked for the Petersburg School District as a teacher’s aide. When their college years approached, she took on some retail jobs. But during these years she also served, when possible wherever they were living, in a leadership capacity in Christian Education in both IL Conference (U.C.C.) and IL South Conference (U.C.C.). Her final administrative job before retirement was as Administrative Secretary for the IL South Conference here in Highland (1988-1997).
In retirement years, she and John took part in a different phase of work they enjoyed doing for the larger Church – visiting annuitant pastors and wives within southern IL. From 1998 to 2018 she was secretary for the Board of Directors of HACSM (Food Pantry) in Highland.
John passed away on a Sunday afternoon, July 30, 2017, and now Joanne has joined him. David and his wife, Lissa of Swanton, MD; Ann and her husband, Ron Libs of Orland Park, IL; Jean and her husband, John Zay of Imperial, MO; Matt, Maribeth, Cooper and Jacob Libs of Lockport, IL; and Christina Libs of Madison, WI, have strong family ties to carry them into the future.
Arrangements are being handled by Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, IL.
Funeral Service will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, IL, with Pastor William E. Kapp, Evangelical United Church of Christ, and Rev. Shana Johnson, IL South Conference, officiating.
Interment will be at Highland City Cemetery in Highland, IL.
Memorial contributions may be made to HACSM (Highland Food Pantry), Eden Seminary, IL South Conference or EvUCC.
