Statement from the Office of Congressman Mike Quigley

Today, Representative Mike Quigley's (IL-05) mother, Joan Louise (Deputy) Quigley passed away at the age of 89. Rep. Quigley and his extended family request privacy during this time.

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Joan Louise (Deputy) Quigley, age 89, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 18, 2022, with her family present. Born amid the Great Depression as the fifth of six children, her mother delivered her at home in Indiana in 1933. She was raised surrounded by books and learning, sparking her journey as a lifelong learner. Her parents ran a newspaper and printing business in Lawrence, Indiana where all six children shared responsibility for publishing the Lawrence Journal, a weekly paper. She graduated from Lawrence High School at the age of 17 and married William "Bill" Earl Quigley, Jr. on June 29, 1951. They raised four children and were married for 67 years.

The family moved to the Chicago area in 1967 after her husband received a work promotion. A woman ahead of her time, she returned to college, graduated with a degree in teaching and spent many years as a self-employed tutor/teacher in the Ottawa, IL area. She also wrote for the Write Team column in the Ottawa Times, proudly carrying on the family's news tradition and forging a path for herself in a male-dominated field. She loved folk music, was a member of several book clubs, and a member of the Bridges Forever Fit Club. An avid storyteller and world-traveler, she enjoyed recounting trips for family and frequently shared childhood stories from the Depression about her father losing his job, the family being evicted from their home, and nurturing a garden of necessity. 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 of her siblings, she was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and her son, Daniel P. Quigley. She is survived by her two daughters and one son, a daughter-in-law, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

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