Jo Ann Nichols

JoAnn Nichols, age 88, passed away peacefully at home on September 13, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on April 22, 1937, in Pink, West Virginia, JoAnn was the daughter of Earl and Hazel (née Lowe) Cunningham. Her family later moved to Akron, Ohio, where she met the love of her life, William "Bill" Nichols. He took her to prom, and from that moment on they were inseparable for 72 years.

JoAnn supported Bill through college by working as a legal secretary. The two were married in 1955 and together they built a beautiful family and a life full of adventure.

In the middle 1960s, JoAnn and Bill moved their growing family to Salinas, California because of Bill's job at Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. In 1969 Firestone moved the entire family to Manila, Philippines. While living abroad, JoAnn led an incredibly active and impactful life. She obtained her pilot's license and helped establish the Girl Scouts of America in Manila. Through JoAnn's bowling team, she became friends with Corazon Aquino, who would later become the country's president.

During a politically turbulent period in the early 1970s, the Philippines fell under martial law. JoAnn's courage and tenacity came to the forefront after Bill and his colleagues were held captive at their Firestone plant. To save her husband from a dangerous situation, JoAnn greased up a box truck and armed herself with collected weapons. She then led a small group in a daring rescue, under gunfire, to bring her husband home. Not long after, the Nichols' Family fled the country. Their courage brought them back home to Ohio in 1972 when they permanently settled in Chardon.

Never ones to sit still, JoAnn and Bill started their own business, Polychem Dispersions Inc., in 1980. In 1981 JoAnn supported her daughter's entrepreneurial ventures which included the founding of Modern Typographi located in Akron, Ohio. From 1993 until 1995, JoAnn helped her son Chuck start a sales company called Spectra Sales that was located in Aurora, Ohio. JoAnn was an active member of Fowlers Mill Christian Church until recent years. A born adventurer and entrepreneur, JoAnn had an infectious smile and an energy that brought people together wherever she went. "She's a pistol," friends, business acquaintances, and strangers alike would say-high praise that summed up her fiery spirit and unrelenting drive.

JoAnn is preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Hazel Cunningham, her nephew John Jackson, her siblings Charles Miller, Richard Cunningham, Donald Cunningham, David Cunningham, Pauline (Cunningham) Jackson, and Mary (Cunningham) Pappas. She is survived by her beloved husband, William Charles Nichols; children W. Charles Nichols II, Jeffery E. (Sandra) Nichols, Lynda (Michael) Koszewski, and Marjorie (Steven) Sarantos; grandchildren Daniel Rerko, Benjamin Sarantos, and Eric Sarantos, Sarah (Koszewski) Bigley, and Kim Koszewski; nieces Erin Metcalf and Ann Hanchulak; and nephews Kevin Cunningham and George Pappas.

In her final months, even the nurses who cared for her felt the warmth and impact of JoAnn's generous heart and enduring humor. With every life she touched, JoAnn leaves a legacy of courage, family, and an unwavering zest for life. She lived boldly, loved fiercely, and never stopped bringing people together. Please join the Nichols Family to celebrate JoAnn's life and to share your own memories of her.

Visitation will be held on September 26th from 3–6 PM at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon, Ohio 44024. A memorial service at 6 PM will follow the visitation. A graveside service will follow on September 27th at 11 AM at Maple Hill Cemetery. The family will be having a reception at Punderson Manor, 11755 Kinsman Rd, Newbury Township, OH 44065, beginning at 12:30.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society (https://donate.cancer.org/), Alzheimer's Association (https://www.alz.org/ ), St. Jude’s Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate/), and The Girl Scouts of America (https://www.girlscouts.org/en/support-us/donate.html).

Arrangements are entrusted to Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.burrservice.com.