Joan Mae Raley

1930 - 2025

Joan Mae Raley
Born: June 27, 1930 in Breese, IL
Died: August 27, 2025 in Coralville, IA
Joan Mae Raley, 95, passed away peacefully in Coralville, IA on August 27, 2025.
Joan was born on June 27th, 1930, in Breese, Illinois, to Opal and Shelby Woods. She was a graduate of Breese High School where she played in an all-girls band. She earned her teaching degree from Illinois State University, Normal, IL, where she met Edward Raley. They were married on June 10, 1951.
Accompanying Edward during his Air Force deployments during the Korean War, Joan taught in San Antonio, TX, and in Bedford, MA, where she also attended graduate school at Boston College and Boston University. Following Edward's discharge, they settled in Bloomington, IN where Indiana University President Herman Wells personally hired Joan to teach at the University Lab School. In 1956, she launched the outdoor education program at Bradford Woods which continues today. They later moved to the Chicago suburbs, where Joan was a beloved fifth grade teacher at Hoffman and Henking Elementary Schools. She had particularly fond memories of their neighborhood potluck group in Glenview, IL.
Joan was a member of the North Shore Unitarian Church, Deerfield, IL, and later the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City, reflecting her commitment to faith and community.
Joan and Edward enjoyed a long, healthy retirement in Polo, IL, where they restored his historic childhood home and spent many years volunteering, traveling and enjoying family and friends. Joan was active in the Philanthropic Education Organization, the Polo Public Library, and the Polo Historical Society. She helped register five local properties on the National Register of Historic Places. She enthusiastically hosted numerous visitors in their home, including large family gatherings, architectural and historical groups and international visitors. In recognition of her tireless efforts, she was named 2017 Citizen of the Year by the Polo Chamber of Commerce.
Joan actively supported her children and was a loving grandmother of ten. Her mantra was "Own your own behavior," and "Do your best and clean up your mess".
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 73 years, Edward; and oldest daughter Jane Raley. Joan is survived by her sister, Mary Ellen Rautenberg, brother-in-law Edmund Raley, son-in-law Jonathan Haile; children John Raley (Margaret Street), Robert (Diane) Raley, and Nancy (Clay) Bush; and grandchildren Tom (Annabelle) Haile, Jonathan Raley, Kate Haile, Nicholas Raley, Grace Raley, Elizabeth Raley, Beau Bush, Charlotte Raley, Jeffrey Raley and Reese Bush; and many nieces and nephews.
A private service will be held for immediate family at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the North Shore Unitarian Church at nsuc.org 'Give' or mailed to the Polo Lifeline Food & Self Help Project, 113 N. Green, Suite A, Polo IL 61064.