Joan M (McClintock) Black

Joan M. Black, 95, recently of Auburn, died on April 14, 2026, after a brief illness.

Joan was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Theodore and Alta (Teeple) McClintock. She was a much anticipated first child and grandchild and greatly loved by her family. Her fondest childhood memories were made spending summers with her grandparents, parents, and siblings at the cottage on Sylvan Lake in Rome City, Indiana.

Joan loved school. She excelled and graduated high school early and with distinction. She attended Vassar College, graduating in 1951 with a major in English and minor in art history. Shortly after graduation she began a job at Liberty Mutual Insurance in New York City. In 1952, she moved to Chicago and continued with Liberty Mutual. While there, she enjoyed attending the opera and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and exploring the Chicago Art Institute. In 1956, Joan met William Black; they married in June 1959, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Two years later, they moved to Wheaton, Illinois, where Joan taught 4th grade at Abraham Lincoln Elementary in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, for one year.

When Bev was born in 1964, Joan shifted to full-time motherhood. Joan claimed her children were the joy of her life, however they were solely responsible for her beautiful white hair. While at home raising her children, Joan joined the League of Women Voters and took great pride in educating people in the importance of their vote. She was a Sunday school teacher, a Girl Scout leader, and she volunteered at her children’s grade school. Joan earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology in 1980 and worked as an assistant professor at George Williams College and then Illinois Benedictine College, retiring in 1996. Joan kept busy in retirement with reading, sewing, gardening, classical music, swimming, walking in the Morton Arboretum, and enjoying her daily ice cream. Her favorite retirement pastime, however, was spending time with her grandchildren.

Visiting grandchildren was a priority. Joan’s time was mostly spent with her lap being occupied by one or more little human and a good story book. She simply loved the family’s annual summer vacation at Sunset Bluff near Ludington, Michigan. It was the highlight of her year, along with about six other holidays spent with her family.

She is survived by her daughters Beverly Black of Waterloo, Indiana, and Nancy Burris (Brent) of Auburn, Indiana; brother Andrew McClintock of Cincinnati, Ohio; grandchildren Malorie Burris (Jacob Miller), Grace Burris (Rob Clark), Madison Burris (Bailey Noonan), Graham Burris, and Luke Burris; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband William Black, son Steven Black, grandson Daniel Burris, and sister Susan Halstead.

Joan’s loving smile, kindness and generous nature will be missed beyond measure.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 25th, from 12:00 – 2:00 pm, with a service immediately following, at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 Center Street in Auburn. Bural at Clear Lake Lutheran Cemetery will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials can made to Alliance Industries (901 East Quincy Street, Garrett, Indiana 46738) or Saint Martin’s Healthcare (1359 South Randolph Street, Garrett, Indiana 46738).

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