Joan Klein

Joan Larsen Klein Urbana - Dr. Joan Larsen Klein, 94, of Urbana passed away peacefully on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. She was born in 1931 in Menominee, Mich., the beloved daughter of William and Eleanor Larsen. She will be fondly remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, a devoted friend, a passionate teacher and a distinguished scholar. She graduated with honors from the University of Michigan and earned a master's and Ph.D. in English literature from Harvard University. She thought there was no better calling than academia, and spent her entire career as a professor of English literature; first at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, then at Bryn Mawr and finally at the University of Illinois from 1970 until her retirement in 2001. She was passionate about teaching - particularly Shakespeare, Spencer and Milton - and was consistently recognized by her students as an excellent teacher. Her writing primarily focused on women and power and she was the editor of "Daughters, Wives & Widows" on the main vocations available to women in Renaissance England. Joan served as chair of the University Senates Conference; for her efforts advancing the rights of same-sex partners at the UI, she received the W. Ellison Chalmers Memorial Award from the Champaign County ACLU. Even with a demanding career and being a single mom, Joan always made time for her sons, whom she loved unconditionally. She was always there for them, ready to offer support. She was also a mentor to friends who had to adjust to being single later in life. She was a voracious reader - murder-mysteries were her guilty pleasure - and was an active member of the philosophers book club. Throughout her life, Joan enjoyed nothing more than summers along the shores of Door County, Wis. (always on the quiet side). She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and cheered on Norway during the Winter Olympics. Gifted at languages, she not only taught herself Italian (and maintained lifelong friends in Italy), but in her 80s, like Cato, studied Homeric Greek. Joan was an avid theater-goer but would not suffer performances that weren't true to the text. She loved animals - with a particular fondness for stray cats. Joan was preceded in death by her brother William (and his wife, Marcie). She is survived by two sons, Richard (and his wife, Audrey) and Sebastian (and his wife, Andrea); as well as several grandchildren and step-grandchildren. In later life, she suffered from dementia, but she never lost her spirit. The family deeply appreciates the many dedicated caregivers who assisted Joan - in particular, Jenny Mackay. A celebration of Joan's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to WILL TV or radio - which she enjoyed and are under threat from spending cuts.