Gloria L. McCutcheon

Gloria L. McCutcheon (Caban)

First woman engineer hired by the Wis. Department of Natural Resources, Gloria Lucille Caban was born and raised in Granite City, IL. Her father was a steelworker and her mother was a school secretary. She was named valedictorian of her 1965 class having excelled at math, science and playing the clarinet.

Gloria studied Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, earning B.S. (1969) and M.S (1970) degrees at a time when there were very few women in the engineering professions. While at the University of Illinois, she met graduate student William “Bill” McCutcheon; they married in August 1969.

In fall 1970, Gloria began her career with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), where she became the first woman engineer hired by the agency. Starting as a plan reviewer in the sanitary treatment division in Madison, Gloria rose through the organization, following her passion for protecting the environment. In 1983 she moved to Milwaukee to become the Southeast Regional Director, a role she held for over 25 years until her retirement.

Gloria was recognized for her accomplishments. She was named a Wisconsin Business Journal Woman of Influence for her work in public policy; received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for outstanding public service to the community from the U.S. House of Representatives; was honored among “Women Putting Their Stamp on Metro Milwaukee” for her achievements in government service; and received the Izaak Walton League of America Chapter Award for her outstanding contributions to Wisconsin’s natural resources. She was also named a Trailblazer by the University of Illinois Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Gloria’s love of learning led her to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute, earning her Ph.D. in Environmental Studies in 2014. Her doctoral research focused on infrastructure sustainability and environmental planning. Gloria’s smile and warmth made her a wonderful friend. She loved to travel and had friends whom she visited in England, Sweden, and India. She and Bill also explored Ireland, Wales, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, and Monaco with friends and family.

She was a passionate volunteer and civic leader, guiding Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful and Friends of Lakeshore Park as a board member. She donated her time to the WE Energies Community Advisory Committee and the Menomonee Valley Partners’ Environmental Committee. One of her favorite projects was the development of Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee, including the visitor center and the award-winning pedestrian bridge.

Gloria was a longtime member of the St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Brookfield, where she attended mass and volunteered with the Saint Vincent de Paul Meal Program. She shared her musical gift by playing clarinet with the music ministry of her parish and at Unity Lutheran Church in Brookfield.

She is survived by her husband Bill and 2 daughters: pediatrician, Dr. Heather Paradis (Jeffrey) of Elm Grove, WI, and veterinarian, Dr. Rachel Sternberg (Adam) of Brookfield, WI. She is additionally survived by brother Paul Caban III and nephews Michael and Erik Caban all of Granite City, IL and seven grandchildren: Maddy, Frances, Henry, Hazel and Theo Paradis and Eva and Liam Sternberg. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Jr. and Lucille (Shable) Caban and brother Jeffrey Caban (Donna).

A celebration of life for Gloria will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Krause Funeral Home 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, WI 53072 from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM with a service to follow. Appetizers will be served and all are welcome to share memories. Interment of ashes will occur in August at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Edwardsville, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gloria’s honor to:

Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful/KGMB
1313 W. Mt. Vernon Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53233
or online at: www.kgmb.org/donate;

or to the Friends of Lakeshore State Park, https://friendslsp.org/get-involved/donate/