Joanne Dunagan

CHICAGO NATIVE, JOANNE DUNAGAN, Career Teacher in Chicago Schools

– Joanne Dunagan, a Chicago native who grew up in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, died at her home in Ocala, Florida Tuesday, January 17. She was 88 years old and was a Florida resident since 2005.

Ms. Dunagan was the second oldest of five children of Clarence Dunagan, II and wife Mildred (Grogan) Dunagan. She attended St. Xavier School (that later became Mother McAuley High School) and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. Mary’s, Notre Dame. Ms. Dunagan worked for an advertising company for a while before getting her teaching certificate. She taught English at Oak Lawn High School before moving to the Chicago Public School system.

Much of her teaching with CPS was in Special Education. She taught at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago, serving children whose illness required long-term stays. In 1970, Ms. Dunagan purchased property in Wilton, Wisconsin that included a farmhouse, two barns and plenty of acreage. She spent summers and holidays there until she retired. She was generous in sharing the farm with family and friends and all agreed they learned a lot there and always had an enjoyable time. She gave up the tranquility of country living and cold Wisconsin winters and moved to the warmth of Florida. A web search brought her to Ocala and the Ocala Palms community where she enjoyed her daily swim, watching sports and studying with tapes from The Great Courses. She was adept at using email to communicate with her nieces and nephews, always commenting on the news and information she received and passing it on. She was definitely the hub for the transmission of news among the family.

Ms. Dunagan was preceded in death by her parents, her eldest brother, Clarence Michael (Mike) Dunagan, III and her youngest brother, Kevin P. Dunagan. She is survived by a brother Dr. David Dunagan of Varna, IL and a sister Suzanne Connely of Homewood, IL., eleven nieces and
nephews and fourteen grand nieces and nephews.

Burial will be private. Her life will be celebrated at the Ocala Palms clubhouse at a later date.