Joann Elizabeth Berry

BERRY

Joann E.



Joann Elizabeth Berry, age 91, of Maumee, OH passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Heartland of Perrysburg Assisted Living Facility the evening of August 24, 2015. She was born in Toledo, Ohio on April 4, 1924, the only child of Wilhelm and Avalon Grunst. Wilhelm "Bill" Grunst was a Toledo Police Detective Sergeant and Avalon (Jones) was the daughter of a prominent lawyer and former Sylvania Mayor, John Jones.

Joann spent much of her summers as a girl on her paternal aunt's farm outside of Ottawa Lake, Michigan, growing up with her cousins, Elaine and Denny Hansen. They were part of an extended family of thirteen aunts, uncles and many cousins, so Joann from early on came to value and cherish the love and support close family ties afforded.

Just at the end of WWII, she met the love of her life, James W. Berry of Lima, Ohio. They wed in 1947 and had three boys over the ensuing years. Joann devoted her life to raising her boys and supporting her husband who was the Plant Manager for Owens-Illinois and later a Professor of Plastics Engineering at Owens Technical College.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed cooking and fine food, flower gardening, fashion, and spending weekends and summers with her family and friends on her cousins farm in Michigan and cottage at Round Lake. She was a quiet private person but enjoyed the company of close friends and family members, bringing out the best of them with her kindness and good humor.

Joann is survived by her three living sons, Michael (Jane), Christopher, and James (Amy); a grandson, Nicholas and the close cousin who provided company and helped care for her in Joann's last years, Annie Distel. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Avie and in 1992, her beloved husband, Jim.

Family and friends will be received at the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant St., Maumee, OH on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Interment will follow visitation at Riverside Cemetery, Maumee. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Home Care and Hospice, 907 W. State St., Fremont, OH 43420. Online condolences may be shared at:

walkerfuneralhomes.com