Joan Willson Plassmann

Joan Willson Plassmann, age 81, of Bryan, Ohio, died at 5:20 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2009, at Bryan Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Center in Bryan, Ohio, where she was a resident. Mrs. Plassmann was a graduate of Fulton School in Fulton County, where she was salutatorian, then graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1949 with a degree in education. She received her Master's Degree in counseling from Zoe College in Jacksonville, Florida. She began teaching at Stockbridge School in Michigan and taught second grade at Lincoln Elementary School in Bryan. Joan was very active in the community, giving passionately to counseling at the Community Pregnancy Center, to Beauty for Ashes and her church. She was the founding teacher at Bryan Pre-School and was a private reading tutor to many in the community. She was dedicated in all things to her Lord, being involved in leadership of the Christian Prayer Breakfast, Women’s Aglow Fellowship and the Emmaus Walk. She was a member of the Bryan Historical Homes Society and was co-owner of Our Daily Bread Health Food Store. Joan loved flower gardening, especially at her new home on the lake. She loved traveling and she and Herb journeyed to Germany, the Netherlands and Israel as well as California, Florida, Colorado and Kansas to visit their grandchildren. She loved celebrating the holidays with family, taking walks, collecting wild flowers and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed camper vacations, day trips to Hidden Lake Gardens, collecting seashells and antique-colored glassware. Joan enjoyed decorating her homes, especially 346 Center Street, where she and Herb raised their family. Some of her favorite memories were of family times at the cottage at Wamplers Lake when the family was young. Joan Willson Plassmann was born on October 3, 1927, in Fulton County, Ohio, the daughter of Shirley Vaughn and Emma (Habel) Willson. She married Herbert A. Plassmann on June 10, 1949, in Ai, Ohio, and he survives. Surviving in addition to her husband are her children, George (Mary) Plassmann, of Olathe, Kansas, Sue (Scott) Kusel, of Charlotte, North Carolina, William (Pamela) Plassmann, of Waterville, Ohio, and Anna Carminito, of Napa, California, nine grandchildren, Ryan, Dustin and Brett Kusel, Matthew, Amy, Sarah, Hilary and Bryce Plassmann and Chelsea Carminito, a brother, James Willson, and a sister, Anna Dennis, both of Delta, Ohio. She was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Bickford. Services for Joan Willson Plassmann will be on Monday, January 12, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church in Bryan, Ohio, with Pastor Richard Franks officiating. Interment will follow in Shiffler Cemetery near Bryan, Ohio. Visitation will be in the Krill Funeral Home, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan, Ohio, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, January 11. Memorials in the name of Joan Willson Plassmann may be given to Community Pregnancy Centers or to First Lutheran Church in Bryan, Ohio.