Karen Van Dyke Maurer

KAREN VAN DYKE MAURER (1937-2026)

Karen Van Dyke Maurer was born October 15, 1937, in Chicago to Edward and Hedvig (nee Lundberg) Van Dyke and died October 21, 2026, after a cancer diagnosis in August. An only child, Karen had a self-described idyllic childhood in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, filled with friends and cousins who became de facto siblings. She graduated Northern Illinois University in 1958 and began teaching in Tinley Park, Illinois. 

A lifelong learner and educator, Karen served thousands of children and families in many roles over five decades that spanned Tinley Park District 146, Flossmoor District 161, First Presbyterian Church (Homewood), Flossmoor Community Church Weekday Preschool, Prairie State College’s HeadStart program, Fourth Presbyterian Church (Chicago) and Parent Co-Op (Hyde Park). She returned to school and earned her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Loyola’s Erickson Institute in 1984, continuing her passionate advocacy for educating young children and becoming a model teacher of young children, both in public and faith-based settings.

Karen’s intractable moral compass guided her daily life, including parenting and grandparenting,and led to her own extensive civic, community and church volunteering. Over the years, Karen was active in League of Women Voters, Generations for Peace, Jones Community Center tutoring program, Democracy in Action, the Windsor Park Green Committee and Resident Council and Heritage Presbyterian Church’s Missional Action Committee and mixed age Sunday School classes. She valued knowledge and meaningful conversations and was never without a book to read. Karen also believed in the power of music education, enthusiastically supportingChicago radio station WFMT and her grandchildren’s involvement in band and orchestra programs from grade school through college and beyond.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband Steve (2006), who she met at Museum of Science and Industry where they both served as tour guides on the U-505 submarine exhibit, and her beloved dog, Hooda. She is survived by her daughter Rachel (Dave), son Erik (Kate), grandchildren Alex (Sierra), Kailie (Gabe), Max (Haley), Cameron, Logan and Reed and great grandson Owen. 

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 965 Kuhn Road, Carol Stream. Visitation from 1:00-4:15PM, service at 4:30PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to WFMT and the Missional Action Committee at Heritage Presbyterian Church.