Eileen Joy Huckstadt

Eileen Joy (Schmidt) Huckstadt, 72, of Danville passed away on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL.

Eileen was born on September 25, 1952, in Skokie, IL, the daughter of Ernst and Joy Schmidt. She married Scott Huckstadt on September 13, 1975 in Elk Grove Village, IL.

Eileen leaves behind, her devoted husband, Scott Huckstadt, her two children, Nicole “Nikki” (Andy) McLain of Edina, MN, and Kyle (Brandy) Huckstadt of Danville, IL, two granddaughters, Marlow and Henley and one grandson, Hudson.

Eileen is also survived by her parents, Ernst and Kathe Schmidt, two brothers, Jim (Gervella) Schmidt, and Paul Schmidt, her nephews, Alex Schmidt, Korey Schmidt, Rob (Justyna) Rosmis, and Peter Messina.

Eileen is also remembered by her extended family, including her brother-in-law, Mark (Patty) Huckstadt, sister-in-law Susan (Rick) Willmert, nephews, Nathan (Niki) Huckstadt, Andy Huckstadt and niece, Jennifer (Solo) Sentor, as well as great nieces, Michaela, Amelia, Lydia, and Ava and great nephews, Tyson, Caleb, and Keagan.

She is preceded in death by her maternal mother, Joy (Wertz) Schmidt, her grandparents Edward and Hazel Wertz and her sister, Kathy Ann (Schmidt) Messina.

Eileen grew up in Elk Grove Village, IL and graduated from Elk Grove Village High School in 1970. She went to college at Concordia Teacher’s College in River Forest, IL. Eileen moved to Danville for her first teaching job at Immanual Lutheran Church and then after one year moved to Danville District 118. She has a very robust teaching career, having taught for 37 years in various grades and roles and received her Master’s degree from Eastern Illinois University.

Eileen’s hobbies included reading, gardening, watching hummingbirds and orioles on her patio and working part time for the school district. She enjoyed participating in garden club, lunching with her friends, and seeing her grandchildren as often as she could. She has many friends who she enjoyed spending time with at family gatherings.

She always made holidays festive and special for her family and grandchildren. She enjoyed doing crafts with her granddaughters and watching them sing, dance and act silly.

Her presence will be deeply missed but her legacy will be of love, laughter and strength as she fought many health issues throughout her life.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1930 N Bowman Avenue, Danville, Illinois 61832. Reverend James Yonkers will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 PM on Friday, August 29, 2025 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, Illinois, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Illinois 61834.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Eileen to one of these organizations:

Pan Can Network at https://pancan.org/?form=FUNGMWGYGJJ or Tom’s Trees. To make an online donation for Tom’s Trees you may Venmo @Patrick-Halloran-9 and leave a note that it’s for Eileen Huckstadt memorial. The Huckstadt family will work with Tom and Patrick to get trees planted.

Please join Eileen’s family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.