Joan Ward Shaffer Swee

1924 - 2022

Joan Ward Shaffer Swee was born July 28, 1924, to Edward C. Ward and Marie Grossner Ward. She graduated from Lorain High School in 1942, and from Bowling Green State University in 1945 with a degree in elementary education.Joan married William Shaffer in 1945 after his return from World War II. They lived in Florence Township with their two children, Bill and Marie. Summers were spent on road trips and camping throughout the United States and Canada.Joan taught at Hough Avenue School in Cleveland, Garfield School in Lorain, and Birmingham School and Brownhelm School in the Firelands School District. She retired in 1980.Following her husband William’s death in 1984, Joan traveled to Israel, Australia and Greece. From 1988-1989, Joan was a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia, West Africa. There she met Richard Swee, another retired teacher and Peace Corps volunteer, whom she married in 1990 following their return to the United States.Joan and Richard made their home in Portland, Oregon, where they spent time volunteering and traveling to Indonesia, France, Italy, Germany and Hong Kong, as well as throughout the United States. After Richard’s death in 2014, Joan returned to Ohio to be closer to her family.She is survived by son Bill Shaffer (Cheryl) and daughter Marie Shaffer Cole, and grandchildren Carrie Jaskiewicz, Betsy (Chip) Bailey, Gail Cole (Tyler Klarr), and Edward Cole, as well as five great-grandchildren. A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 in Florence Cemetery, 11319 SR 113, Berlin Heights, Ohio. There will be a reception following the service at Florence Church, Faith Hall. In Joan’s honor, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 3747 Liberty Ave., Vermilion, OH 44089 or Doctors Without Borders, PO Box 5022, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Garland-Misencik Funeral Home, Amherst, entrusted with arrangements.