Joseph "Buck" Stephen

Joseph "Buck" Stephen of DeKalb, Illinois. Born November 17, 1957, died January 26, 2021.
He succumbed to complications from successful cancer treatment and passed peacefully at home Tuesday January 26, 2021.

Born November 17, 1957, in Yuma, Arizona; Joseph earned a PhD in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1987. He later became a math professor at Northern Illinois University, where he would continue to teach and publish his research for over 32 years until his death. During his tenure at NIU, he served on various and numerous boards and committees, gaining friends from many different academic disciplines.

Buck was well-known around his adoptive hometown of DeKalb and widely liked for his kind, helpful, and generous nature. A jack of all trades and doctor of math, he will be deeply missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph R. & M. Frances Stephen, and his identical twin, Thomas Stephen. He is survived by his daughter Emily Stephen, and his sisters Michal, Sheila, and Margaret, girlfriend: Laura Kettner.

A memorial visitation is to be held Saturday November 13, 2021, 1pm at Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak Street, DeKalb, Illinois. Reception to follow at Rosita's at 3pm. Local services were entrusted to: Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL, 60115 (815) 758-3841.