Tara Lynn Gerstner

It is with great sadness that we remember the life of Dr. Tara Lynn Gerstner (Mitchell). Tara passed away on October 14, 2026, in Peoria, Illinois, at the age of 47, from long-term complications of a hemorrhagic stroke she suffered in 2021.

Tara was born and raised in Chester, Illinois, and graduated from Chester High School in 1997. She went on to attend Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) in Bloomington, Illinois, graduating in 2001. While at IWU, she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. She subsequently joined Southwestern Bell’s Leadership Development Program and moved to San Antonio, Texas, following her marriage to Greg Gerstner in 2002. There, she earned her MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2004.

The couple then moved to Tucson, Arizona, where Greg completed his medical training and Tara began her teaching career at Catalina Foothills High School. She led students on the school’s competitive Marketing Team and began her first foray into nonprofit work at Interfaith Community Services. Their first two children, Tyler and Elizabeth (Ellie), were born during their time in Tucson.

In 2008, the family moved back to Illinois and settled in Peoria, where they have made their home ever since. Tara quickly formed deep connections in the community and continued her passion for nonprofit work by helping to launch Peoria Promise alongside Mayor Ardis and their dedicated board. During her tenure with Peoria Promise, she helped more than 2,000 high school graduates pursue a college education and raised more than $3 million. She also served on numerous boards, including those of Peoria Ballet and Children’s Home, and was recognized as a community leader as one of Peoria’s “40 Under 40.” She later stepped away from her professional career for a time following the births of their two younger children, Lucas and Andrew (Drew).

In 2016, Tara joined the faculty at her alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University, to lead its new Entrepreneurship program. Under her leadership, the program achieved a No. 1 ranking in a five-state region and a No. 9 national ranking. Tara particularly enjoyed working with students, helping them discover their passions and find their paths after graduation. She also contributed to IWU’s strong job-placement outcomes, with the university ranking again No. 1 in Illinois and No. 7 nationally. One of her favorite things was bringing IWU alumni back to campus to share their experiences and inspire her students, many of whom she had inspired herself. Tara earned her Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from DePaul University in 2021. At the time of her passing, she was actively researching entrepreneurial teaching models and the interactions between education and artificial intelligence.

Beyond her many professional accomplishments, Tara loved spending time with family, and attending their many events and competitions. She also loved her time with friends.

She loved to travel, especially to the beach, and enjoyed reading, dining out, watching movies, and was an avid connoisseur of candy and ice cream. She was a master organizer of events and took personal pride and pleasure in negotiating any and all things. She was also a member of First United Methodist Church in Peoria.

Tara is survived by her husband, Greg, and their four children, Tyler, Ellie, Lucas, and Drew; her three siblings, Jeff, Kris, and David Mitchell; her father, David Mitchell; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and close friends. Her mother, Mary Mitchell, preceded her in death in 2023.

Visitation will be held from 10AM to 1PM on Saturday, October 24, 2026 with service to follow at 1PM, at Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home, 2408 W. Willow Knolls Drive, Peoria, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Mitchell Scholarship at Illinois Wesleyan University.

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