Joan K. Hassel

Joan K. Hassel, 85, of Sylvania, OH passed away peacefully Friday, February 8, 2013, at Sunset Village in Sylvania, OH. Joan was born March 25, 1927, in Edgerton, WI to Durrell and Cecelia Flarity Davis and was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerald W. Hassel, and infant son, Scott M. Hassel. Joan grew up in Augusta, KS and was a 1944 graduate of Augusta High School where she excelled in academics and love of music and the piano. She continued her education in Chicago receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from DePaul University in 1950. While working in Chicago, Joan met her future husband, Gere, who was pursuing a graduate degree in journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston. In 1951, Joan and Gere were married and made their first home in Illinois. Joan began a teaching career in 1956 with the Bradley, IL public school system, teaching music to elementary grades. In 1964, the family moved to Toledo, OH where Joan continued teaching in the elementary grades for Sylvania public school system for over 20 years until retirement in 1986. During her teaching career, Joan was also privileged to have been chosen as a Jennings Scholar in the State of Ohio. Joan loved to travel and visited many foreign countries throughout her life including trips to Europe, Russia and China with her husband, Gere. After retirement, Joan was involved with many childrens theater productions at Lourdes College, the Ohio Reads Program, the Toledo Symphony Concerts for Children and the Toledo Museum of Art. Joan is survived by her sons, Kirk C. Hassel and Mark S. Susan Hassel; grandchildren, Christina Hassel, Jennifer Nick Waltzer, Nick Melissa Hassel, and great-grandchildren, Robin, Colsen, and Ruthann. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Sunday, followed by the rosary at 8:00 p.m. in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. west of Corey Rd. Prayers will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday from the funeral home, followed by the funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. in Christ the King Church, 4100 Harvest Lane, Toledo. Interment will follow at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Dept 142 Memphis, TN 38101 or St. Vincent de Paul Society