When the young mother of a child with learning difficulties in the 1960s, Norma "Dee" Stukenberg began meeting at his home in Chi...
When the young mother of a child with learning difficulties in the 1960s, Norma "Dee" Stukenberg began meeting at his home in Chicago with other moms how they organize with one goal in mind: to get their children the best education possible.
These children, as the son of Richard Stukenberg, struggling with a hyperactivity disorder attention deficit, dyslexia and auditory and visual processing problems - many of them with learning disabilities is not well known the time.
"It is the children without any external physical characteristics of children with special needs, but they are not at school," said another son, Dennis.
In 1967 became a founding member of Stukenberg Member Chicago Association for children with learning difficulties. It was the first interest group learning difficulties in the state and is now known as the Association of Learning Disabilities in Illinois. The nonprofit group promotes networking between parents, educators and professionals for children with learning difficulties work.
Stukenberg, 93, died June 29 at his home in Leaf River, Ill., From complications from a recent stroke. A former longtime resident of Beverly neighborhood that was the last president of the Chicago Association for children with learning difficulties, and later LDA / Chicago Area South.
"She was a leader in the original group of parents in Illinois, which has done everything to fight with disabilities for the rights of children", Pat Glatz said, a retired teacher of special education is on the board of LDA / Illinois and LDA / Chicago Area South. "Our movement was formed by educators, psychologists, social workers, lawyers and many other professionals. But are parents and Dee were the driving force behind much of what we have achieved today."
In a 1996 interview with the Daily Southtown, reminded Stukenberg when children with special needs were separated in the rooms and placed where schools have space "where the first son of my classroom into the room next were boiler in the basement."
"There was no network, no services at this time," he said the day Southtown.
The mother of four children, Stukenberg and her late husband had a son, Richard, and two daughters, both hearing impaired. Over the years he worked in management positions at LDA, help special education legislate and pushing regulations that require specialized training for special education teachers.
"She was a remarkable mother," wrote in an e-mail on the podium his daughter Nancy. "She's taught my sister and my word and character. Manned His hands. I remember going with her to some meetings of the board, where to leave mark us know what the meeting was about. Today we are in the loop kept. "
Born Norma Ruth Mason in Readstown, Wisconsin, USA., Graduates Stukenberg from Pecatonica High School about 15 miles west of Rockford. He moved to Chicago in 1951, married to Ellis Stukenberg, a percussionist in the orchestra announced that played with artists such as Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. He died in of 2008.
"They met after my mother a show in Rockford to see, went," said his son Dennis. "It was his biggest fan."
While their children to educate, Stukenberg worked as a receptionist in an optometrist office in Evergreen Park and Chicago. Later, he returned to school, earning in 1990 a bachelor's degree in education from National Louis University and has a master Online hygiene and behavioral sciences at the University of Norwich 1992nd
"She was a woman warm, welcoming and wonderful, who have worked hard for children with learning disabilities, get what they need in life to be successful," Glatz said.
Other survivors are a daughter, Sandra Wehrmeister; and a granddaughter.
Services will be private.
Giangrasse Kates is a freelance journalist.
