Loyeen Jo Woodruff

Obituary's Biography:

Loyeen Jo Woodruff – December 31, 1941 – April 17, 2025

Loyeen Jo Woodruff, 83, of Libertyville, Illinois, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2025.

Born on December 31, 1941, in McCook, Nebraska, Loyeen developed a lifelong love of learning, leadership, and service. She was active in the Rainbow Girls organization, serving as President, and graduated as Salutatorian of her Cambridge high school class in 1959.

She continued her education at Nebraska Wesleyan University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and English in 1963. During college, she was a proud member of Delta Zeta Sorority and worked at Miller and Payne Department Store. It was at Nebraska Wesleyan that she met the love of her life, Bill Woodruff. They married on August 11, 1963, beginning a beautiful partnership that lasted 50 cherished years until Bill’s passing in 2013.

After their marriage, Loyeen and Bill lived briefly in Omaha where Loyeen began her career teaching middle school girls’ P.E. and founded the school’s first synchronized swim team, while Bill completed his Master’s degree. They then moved to Texas A&M University, where Bill pursued his doctorate and Loyeen focused on building their family. Their son, Todd, was born in 1967. In 1969, the family relocated to Joliet, Illinois, where their daughter Tracy was born in 1970, followed by a move to Hinsdale and the birth of their daughter Susan in 1971.

Service and community were at the heart of Loyeen’s life. She served as Building Committee Chair at the Friendship United Methodist Church, Bolingbrook, was active in the PTA, volunteered as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, and participated in the Newcomers Club. She also traveled extensively with Bill through his work with Argonne National Laboratory, developing a deep love of traveling and learning about cultures and cuisine.

Loyeen lived a vibrant and fulfilling life. She loved storytelling, cooking, playing cards with friends, hosting family gatherings, and meeting new people—believing that there were no strangers, only friends she had yet to meet. She took immense pride in her children and grandchildren, celebrating their accomplishments and the joy they brought her. In her later years, Loyeen was one of the first residents of Green Oaks Senior Living in Libertyville, where she enjoyed bridge games, entertainment, and the companionship of many dear friends.

Loyeen is survived by her sister, Kathy Huddleston (Brad); her son, Todd Woodruff (Elizabeth) and grandchildren Madison, Ikaika, Joshua, and Jacob; her daughter, Tracy Woodruff Glass (Scott) and grandchildren Inman and Brin; and her daughter, Susan Woodruff and grandchildren Tia and Joseph.

A celebration of Loyeen’s life will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Friendship United Methodist Church in Bolingbrook, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Friendship United Methodist Church Building Campaign at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=BMM727UQ6CWLS.

Loyeen will be remembered for her warmth, compassion, and her extraordinary gift for making everyone feel seen, valued, and loved. She will be dearly missed and forever held in the hearts of all who knew her. Be thou at peace. All funeral arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. For more information please log onto www.strangfuneral.org or contact (847)223-8122.