Joanne Carole Schieble Simpson was born in 1932 in Wisconsin, USA, into a devout Catholic family of German and Swiss descent. Her parents, Arthur and Irene Schieble, followed traditional values, especially when it came to religion and societal expectations. Raised in a conservative environment, Joanne was taught to value discipline, modesty, and family honor.
She was academically driven and earned admission to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she pursued her studies in speech-language pathology. During a time when few women were encouraged to pursue higher education, Joanne’s decision to attend university already marked her as a forward-thinking individual.
A Love That Challenged Norms
While in college, Joanne met Abdulfattah Jandali, a Syrian immigrant and political science student. Their relationship was genuine, but their cultural and religious differences created major obstacles. Joanne’s Catholic family, particularly her father, strongly opposed the relationship due to Jandali’s background as a Muslim and an Arab.
Despite being in love, Joanne faced relentless pressure from her family, who threatened to disown her if she continued the relationship. In the mid-1950s, being pregnant out of wedlock was not just frowned upon, it was a social crisis. Faced with these challenges, Joanne had to make one of the most difficult choices of her life.
The Birth and Adoption of Steve Jobs
In 1954, Joanne became pregnant with her first child. With no family support and facing cultural shame, she moved to San Francisco and checked into a home for unwed mothers, run by Catholic nuns. On February 24, 1955, she gave birth to a baby boy who would be named Steve Jobs.
Joanne decided to place him for adoption. But she insisted that the adoptive parents be college-educated. After the original adoptive couple backed out, Paul and Clara Jobs, a working-class couple, adopted the child. Joanne initially hesitated, but after being reassured that Steve would receive a good education, she signed the adoption papers.
Her choice was guided by a mix of fear, hope, and selflessness. At just 23 years old, she made a decision that would help shape the future of the tech world.
Life After the Adoption
Joanne returned to Wisconsin shortly after the adoption. Surprisingly, she and Abdulfattah Jandali got married in 1955, a decision that adds complexity to her story. However, the marriage did not last, and they divorced several years later. They never reclaimed Steve, even though they were married during his early childhood.
This chapter of her life remained largely private. Joanne focused on her career in speech-language pathology and stayed away from the public narrative that would later emerge about her son.
Marriage to George Simpson and the Birth of Mona
Years after her divorce from Jandali, Joanne married George Simpson. They had a daughter, Mona Simpson, who would go on to become a critically acclaimed novelist.
Joanne’s second child, Mona, was raised unaware that she had a biological brother. It wasn’t until adulthood that Mona discovered Steve Jobs was her sibling. The two developed a close relationship, and Mona later wrote about their shared connection and her admiration for their mother.
Mona’s novel Anywhere But Here was inspired in part by her mother’s life. While fictionalized, the story drew attention to the strength and sacrifices of women like Joanne, who lived much of their lives in the background.
Joanne’s Influence and Legacy
Although Joanne did not raise Steve Jobs, her early decisions shaped his life profoundly. She chose to give her son a better chance, prioritizing education and stability over personal attachment. That decision placed Steve in an environment where he could explore his potential, eventually leading to the founding of Apple.
In later years, Jobs acknowledged the pain and strength behind his mother’s decision. He expressed admiration for her courage and the difficult path she had to walk alone. Their reunion was private, but meaningful.
Joanne never sought public recognition. She didn’t write memoirs, appear in interviews, or take credit for her son’s success. But those who knew the full story recognized that her influence was always there, quiet and steady in the background.
Public Recognition and Personal Privacy
Joanne Schieble Simpson lived out her later years in privacy. She never entered the public conversation about Steve Jobs’ legacy. She passed away on January 19, 2018, at the age of 85.
She was mentioned in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Jobs and was remembered fondly by her daughter Mona in essays and speeches. Her story has been described with empathy, offering a deeper understanding of the quiet strength it took to give up a child while holding onto dignity.
Final Thoughts
Joanne Schieble Simpson’s life reminds us that some of the most influential people in history were shaped not just by what they achieved, but by those who made sacrifices behind the scenes. Joanne’s early decision to place Steve Jobs for adoption was not easy, but it came from a place of love and hope for a better future.
She faced cultural judgment, family rejection, and personal grief with resilience. And though she rarely appeared in headlines, her legacy lives on through the lives of her children, both in the tech world and in literature.