Dr. Joseph Anton Twaranovica, 88, of Urbana, passed away in Champaign, IL. on Monday, January 13, 2014. His wife, Wilma was at his side.

Born August 16, 1925 he was the son of Anton and Bessie (Belek) Twaranovica. A WWII veteran, he served in the US Army Infantry and participated in the allied invasion of Normandy. He was awarded a purple heart for wounds sustained in that offensive. Joseph graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a BS in Education and earned an MA and PhD in Special Education from the University of Illinois. Under the leadership of Dr. T Earnest Newland he helped develop the standards used in the BLAT (Blind Learning Aptitude Test). Dr. Twaranovica, affectionately known as "Dr. Joe" worked as a School Psychologist for the Rural Champaign County Special Educational Cooperative for more than 35 years. He was a life long advocate who lobbied for the programs and funding for children with special needs. He was a member of the National Education Association, Illinois School Psychologists Association, Illinois Council for Exceptional Children, Champaign County Mental Health Board and Phi Beta Kappa.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Wilma (nee Ford); their three children, Ann-Marie (John) Dittmann, of Falls Church, VA; Ford Anton Twaranovica, of Urbana, IL; Anton Preston (Tricia) Twaranovica, of Deltona, FL; and three grand children, Alex & Will Dittmann and Stone Twaranovica. Memorial Contributions may be made in Joe's memory to Cunningham Children's Home or Boys Town in Omaha, NE. Condolences may be offered at renner-wikoffchapel.com. The family is planning a memorial in Urbana in the spring and an additional memorial in Omaha this summer. Details are still pending and will be announced when finalized.