Joan Weller, of Novi, MI formerly of Clintonville, WI passed away rather unexpectedly on Saturday evening, November 23, at Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi. She was 89, and was hospitalized briefly.
Joan was born May 12, 1930 in Clintonville, WI to the late Russell and Dorothy (Harris) Weller. Joan attended Clintonville High School in Clintonville, WI. As a sophomore, she worked in the classroom on Saturdays helping create the first student files for the school. This led to working in the school office in her sophomore, junior and senior years as well as her following freshman year in college. A 1948 graduate of Clintonville High School, Joan attended Mount Mary College in Milwaukee and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Secretarial Science and Mathematics. She student taught for six weeks at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee. She taught typing classes at Kaukauna High School in Kaukauna, WI in 1952. In 1953, she began teaching at Bayview High School in Milwaukee, WI, where she taught typing and math for three years. She said she could see Lake Michigan from the top floor (4th) of the school. From the summer of 1956 through the summer of 1957, Joan attained a masters in business education at Northwestern University. While there, she was a counselor (resident advisor) at the Northwestern Apartments, which earned her room and board. In the fall of 1956, she met Barbara (Flaherty) Asmus, who was also a counselor at the apartments. In 1958, Joan moved to Portland, Oregon to be near her friend, Barbara. She began teaching at James Madison High School and taught typing, shorthand, math and general business at the school over the next eight years. One of her students was Rick Wise, former MLB pitcher. While in Portland, she lived with Barbara and her parents. In 1965, Joan moved to Fremont, CA, where both the weather and pay were better. She taught typing, shorthand, business law, accounting and general business at Irvington High School for the next 27 years. In fact, one of her students was Dick Ruthven, former MLB pitcher. Joan retired in 1992.
Surviving are her devoted brothers, James (Carol) and Harry (the late Ginny) Weller; nieces and nephews, Michael (Margaret) Weller, David (Kimberly) Weller, Kathryn (David) Runyan, Laura (Larry) Smentowski, Thomas (Sandy) Weller, Susan (Chris) Kapczynski, Barbara (David) Konkol, Ann (Scott) Hoffmann, and Mary (the late Kenneth) Bath; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
Friends and family will celebrate Joan’s life at her funeral mass on Friday morning, November 29th, at 10:00 a.m. (in state at 9:30 a.m.) at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23615 Power Rd., Farmington, MI with Father Mark Brauer presiding.
A visitation will also be held at the Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, 53 N. Main Street, Clintonville, WI on Monday, December 2, 2019 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. A formal procession to St. Rose Cemetery will follow with graveside committal officiated by Father Timothy Shillcox.
Those who wish to further honor Joan’s memory are invited to consider a contribution to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, or for masses.
Kindly keep Joan and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.