Joan Esterline Lafuze

She was born on July 31, 1937, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to the late James C. and Dorothy (Palmer) Esterline.

Joan graduated from Shortridge High School in 1955 and Indiana University in Bloomington in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. After graduation, she began working as a Medical Technologist at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. She and her husband Ralph were married on October 2, 1960, at North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.

Joan and Ralph raised their family in Hagerstown, Indiana. As her children grew older and were in school, she decided to continue her education. She began commuting to Ball State University in Muncie and earned her Master of Science in Physiology in 1975. She continued her studies at the Indiana University School of Medicine and earned her PhD in Physiology in 1981.

After completing her doctorate, she began working as a Research Associate and Assistant Professor at the IU School of Medicine from 1981 to 1987. Much of her work involved research in her office and laboratory at Riley Hospital in the Department of Hematology and Oncology.

In 1987, she accepted a position as an Assistant Professor at IU East in Richmond. Over time, she advanced to become a full professor in 1999.

Her career was not just a job; it was something she deeply enjoyed and felt passionate about. She continued working until she was 83 years old. Even after retiring, she remained intellectually engaged and she virtually attended Indiana University School of Medicine Grand Rounds on Friday mornings, listening to lectures on medical topics.

She truly loved both teaching and research. She had several professional publications, including Case Analyses for Abnormal Psychology: Learning to Look Beyond the Symptoms.

After her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, she developed and taught a course called The Biology of Mental Illness. The course brought together healthcare professionals and individuals with lived experience who spoke with her students and helped deepen their understanding of mental illness.

She also wrote more personal works, including Dad Named Me Robert: Let’s Talk About Mental Illness and a poetry book, Magic of the Seasons.

Joan is survived by her daughters Jeannette Ogborn (John), Leanne Lafuze Lighty (Brent), and Mary Comer (Steve); her grandchildren, Shawn Adams, Jessica Raber (Chris), Erin Spencer (Ethan), Thomas Comer, Kayla Comer (fiancé Dan), and Layla Raber; her sister, Mary Esterline McGarvey; her sisters-in-law, Rosemary (Bob) Brasie and Janice (Dick) Kingman; and many extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph Lafuze; her son Robert Lafuze; her daughter Jan Adams; her sister Jan Yosha; her niece Ruth Ann Valentine; and her nephews John Brasie and Brad Yosha.

Joan’s family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at Morning Pointe for their kindness and compassionate care of Joan.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2026, at North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. Burial will follow the service at Crown Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to support the Robert Lawrence Lafuze Scholarship at IU East by visiting https://give.myiu.org/iu-east/P370015328.html or by mailing a check payable to the IU Foundation at P.O. Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Please include “Robert Lawrence Lafuze Scholarship” in the memo line. Memorial contributions may also be made to North United Methodist Church, 3808 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208, or to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Indiana through its https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/Q6oCHCwL9mCFJMibkm3dGA?utm_source=chatgpt.com.