Steven G Vaupel

Steven Glen Vaupel 71, of Palatine, IL passed away Sunday, November 16, 2025 at his home in Palatine. Steve was born on November 3, 1954 in Fort Riley, Kansas the son of Luther Owen and Mary Frances (Thackrey) Vaupel. Prior to his retirement Steve worked as a Child Behavioral Consultant with the Center of Deafness, Northbrook, IL and taught classes as an Adjunct Professor at Harper College, Palatine, IL. He was a 1972 graduate of Carmi Community High School. He received a BS in Psychology from the University of Southern Indiana in 1988, a MA in Clinical Psychology from Eastern IL University in 1992 and his PHD in Special Education and Teaching from the University of IL in 1999. Steve spent much of his lifetime as an advocate for deaf children throughout the state of IL making sure public schools were giving them the services they needed and rightfully deserved to be successful in life. Steve was a much beloved son, brother and uncle. He was the life of the party and always had a smile on his face.

Steve is survived by his sister, Debbie and Bill South, his brothers, Gary and Barb Vaupel and Kelley and Tonya Vaupel. Four nieces and three nephews Sara and Quinton Runyon, Mary Ann and Mitch Gross, April and Bryon Neal, Ben and Drew Vaupel, Claire and Tommy Smith, Martin Vaupel and Peter Vaupel. He was preceded in death by his parents, paternal grandparents Martin and Coralee (Funkhouser) Vaupel and maternal grandparents Alpheus and Ruby (Griswold) Thackrey.

Funeral services and burial at Centerville Cemetery in Carmi were private.