Josephine (Jody) Steinhofer; Retired Teacher

Josephine (Jody) Steinhofer, who taught elementary school-age special education students in the San Fernando Valley for more than 20 years, has died at a Reseda convalescent home. She was 87.

Mrs. Steinhofer died Friday of natural causes, her daughter Sally Cypher said.

Born Josephine E. Coleman on Oct. 24, 1903, in Cross Plains, Wis., she came to California in 1942. Two years later, she began teaching special education at Chatsworth Park School, later transferring to Canoga Park School and to Granada School, where she retired in the late ‘60s. Mrs. Steinhofer was a longtime member of the Granada Hills Woman’s Club.

She is survived by her son, Thomas Steinhofer of Sebastopol, Calif.; daughters Sally Cypher of Northridge and Patricia Sprouse of Merced, Calif.; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Her husband, Clayton W. Steinhofer, died in 1972.

A funeral is scheduled at noon today at Bastian & Perrott Mortuary, 18728 Parthenia St., Northridge, which is handling arrangements. Burial will follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills. Donations can be sent in Mrs. Steinhofer’s name to the Granada Theatre, of which she was a patron.