Joanne Blair

Joanne E. Blair, 85, of Springfield, died at 6:35 a.m. on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at St. John's Hospice. Joanne was born November 29, 1927, the daughter of Ernest and Laura Bretz Albertsen. She married Charles W. Blair on April 4, 1946 in Illiopolis; he preceded her in death in 1995. Joanne graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1945. She raised her children in Illiopolis and was involved in Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTA President, Illiopolis Junior Women's Club, and St. Elizabeth's Altar and Rosary Society. Her career began in 1965 as Tax Assessor for the Sangamon County Clerk's Office, Superintendent of Protocol for the 1969 State Fair, and General Manager of the Leland Hotel. Joanne began with the Traffic Safety Division in 1970 as a traffic safety advisor on the Governor's Traffic Safety Coordination Committee. From 1978-1979, she worked for the Department of Aging to study the transportation problems of senior citizens. In 1981, she was appointed as the Governor's Representative to the National Association of Women Highway Safety Leaders (NAWHSL), which had been organized in 1967. That same year, Joanne was instrumental in founding the Illinois Traffic Safety Leaders (ITSL) and was active as an officer and consultant until the present time. She also served as the 1st Vice President for NAWHSL in 2000. In 2003, the Joanne Blair Leadership Award was created to honor the selfless leadership and dedication of Joanne to improving highway safety for citizens of Illinois. She returned to work with the Department of Transportation, Traffic Safety Division in 1982 and retired in 2003. In 2010, she received the Springfield Celebrity Citizen Award for continued service to Illinois Traffic Safety Leaders. She enjoyed reading biographies and history, growing roses, and shopping. She was also preceded in death by her parents and two sons, Charles Blair II and James "Jamie" Blair. She is survived by her son, Steven (Julia) Blair of Illiopolis; daughter, Joni (Mike) Daley of Springfield; six grandchildren, Tim (Tiffany) Blair of Pawnee, Matt (Candice) Blair and Jennie Donaldson, both of Illiopolis, Mike Daley of Taylorville, Ryan (Amanda) Daley of Santee, CA, and Kevin Daley of Springfield; and eleven great-grandchildren, Jake, Cami, Lauren, Gracie, and Charlie Blair, Sarah, Stevie, and T.J. Donaldson, and Jase, Mason, and Preslie Daley. Visitation: Family will receive friends from 10:00-11:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield. Funeral Ceremony: 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, with Rev. Peter C. Harman officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Illiopolis. Memorial contributions may be made to: St. John's Hospice, 800 E. Carpenter, Springfield, IL 62702.