Lake Forest Obituary: Susan Gravenhorst, 88

Susan Loving Gravenhorst, a distinguished elected official, civic volunteer, University of Illinois Trustee and Lake County Commissioner died on the 15th of September.

Mrs. Gravenhorst was born in Effingham, Illinois on October 1, 1931, to Harold and Julia (Highsmith) Loving. An only child and bright student, she skipped the third grade and graduated from Effingham High School as class valedictorian at the age of sixteen. Although she had been accepted to two Seven Sisters colleges, her father felt her too young to attend school so far away and instead attended Stephens College for Women (Columbia, MO). Upon graduation in 1950 her parents allowed her to move on to the school she really wanted to attend, the University of Illinois. In 1952 she received a B.A. degree in English from Illinois with a credential in secondary school teaching and a minor in Speech.

On Valentine’s Day 1953, she married a man she had first dated at Illinois, Albert D. Gravenhorst. They moved around the country a bit as he pursued a career in advertising and while she taught English, journalism and speech in junior high and high schools in Atlanta, Des Moines, Birmingham (MI), Cleveland and Dallas and finally Lake Forest, IL. In the mid 60’s together with her husband, she founded Gravenhorst & Associates, Inc., a publisher’s rep firm based in Chicago, where she served as CFO and Treasurer for over thirty-five years.

While living in Lake Forest she became involved with and led as President many community organizations: President Cherokee School PTA, President, Lake Forest PTA, President, Lake Forest High school Volunteer Board, President, Panhellenic, Lake Forest Symphony Associations’ Women’s committee, Lake Bluff/Lake Forest Committee of the Arden Shore Association, Lake Forest Hospital Women’s Board, President KV Chapter PEO, President of Mary and Martha Guild, Faith Lutheran Church, Board Member Friends of Gorton Community Center.

She became active in local politics first serving as the President of the Women’s Republican Club of Lake Forest and then ran for the Lake Forest Caucus. She served on the Caucus for eight years. Her political career progressed to the county and district level. She served as the State Central Republican Committeewoman for Illinois’ 10th Congressional District 1982-1998 and was also a member of the Lake County Republican Federation Board of Governors 1968-1984.

In 1984 she decided to combine her interests in (i) education, (ii) the University of Illinois and (iii) politics by running un-slated – then unheard of – as a Republican candidate for the University’s Board of Trustees. She prevailed in both the primary and the general election. And was the first Republican woman to win statewide office in Illinois- paving the way for Corrine Wood, Judy Baar Topika and many others. She was re-elected in 1990 and, after the Board shifted from elective to appointive, was appointed to a third term by Governor Jim Edgar in 1996. She served for eighteen years. In 1998, she was elected Chairman of the University Board and, consequently, her signature is on the diplomas of thousands of students who graduated during the 1998-2000 timeframe. She chaired most of the committees of the Board and was the first woman to Chair the Committee on Athletics. She also served as a Board member of the University of Illinois Foundation and its President’s Council and the State Universities Civil Service Merit Board.

In 1999 at its annual convention in Seattle, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges honored her with its Distinguished Service Award in Trusteeship for the “best volunteer service to public higher education.” This award is given annually to a leader in college and university stewardship.

In 2002 after retiring from the University’s Board, she moved from the state to the local level and ran for Lake County Commissioner and won, then won re-election and served Lake Forest/Lake Bluff for eight years, retiring at 80 years of age in 2012. She never lost an election in her entire career.

Mrs. Gravenhorst was well known for her lifetime extensive and dedicated service to the communities of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff, Lake County, The Republican Party of Illinois and the University of Illinois. At the time of her death, she was a member of Knollwood Club, Delta Gamma Sorority and PEO.

She was predeceased by her husband, Alby, and is survived by(i) a son, Hugo (Terese) Gravenhorst of Chicago, (ii) two daughters, Suzanne Gravenhorst of Waukegan and Jane (Lars). Soderberg of Cherry Hills Village, CO and (III) five grandchildren Abigail (Ian) Strug, Eleanor Gravenhorst, Lars A. Soderberg, Anders Soderberg and Bradley Soderberg.

Funeral arrangements are available with Wenban Funeral Home (847) 234-0022 or www.webanfh.com. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the University of Illinois Foundation in honor of Susan Gravenhorst, 1305 W. Green St, Urbana, IL 61801