Joel Peter Zrull

1932 - 2025

Joel Peter Zrull

January 10, 1932 - October 1, 2025

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved father and grandfather Joel Peter Zrull on October 1, 2025. He died peacefully surrounded by family at Pennybyrn at Maryfield in High Point, N.C.

Joel was born in Detroit, Michigan, on January 10, 1932, to Arthur Benjamin Christian Zrull and Mildred Bazy Zrull in the same house in which his father was born. The family moved to Dearborn, Mich., in 1939, and Joel, having experienced a bout of school phobia at his new school, was prescribed a course of psychotherapy with an experienced play therapist. This early intervention helped and inspired him. After graduating valedictorian from Dearborn High School in 1949 and earning a bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan in 1953, Joel attended medical school and became a child psychiatrist. He earned his M.D. in 1957 and was a resident at the University of Michigan, spending a year as an intern at a hospital in Toledo, Ohio. After completing his education, he worked at Children's Psychiatric Hospital at the U of M from 1962-1973. He developed strong relationships with colleagues that would last a lifetime and lead to a career move as well as positions on national committees in the field of psychiatry.

In 1973, Joel left Michigan to embark on a career at the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo. He became Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry in 1975 and served in that capacity for 23 and a half years. During his tenure as chair, the department grew, and Joel oversaw the construction of the 25-bed child and adolescent psychiatric hospital that included both inpatient care and the Kobacker Center with a school for day treatment.

As chair, Joel carried out many administrative tasks, but he continued to see patients and prioritize his work with medical students, residents, and young faculty. He especially valued and enjoyed his work with these latter groups - a fact that has been made clear by the appreciation expressed by former students and colleagues over the years. In addition, he served in several capacities for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology - serving as a board examiner for a number of years and encouraging his faculty to do so as well. He was also a participating member of the Society of Professors of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He strongly believed that it is the job of a leader to give back, and he did so by teaching, mentoring, and treating and aiding in healing. The many contributions he made to the field of child psychiatry were acknowledged in 2003, when he was selected to receive the Agnes Purcell McGavin Award for Distinguished Career Achievement in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Joel married the love of his life and high school sweetheart Nancy Jane Eichenlaub in 1954. They had two children, Mark and Lisa. Joel was a devoted husband and father. He loved family, looking forward to vacations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada as well as holiday celebrations with extended family. He and Nancy traveled to conferences all over the States and to France and England. They loved to play cards and socialize with dear friends, hosting dinner parties and Christmas gatherings that people still remember fondly. He played in a hockey league for a number of years, and then tennis. He was a Michigan Man to the end, standing by his Wolverines whether they were having a great season or not and was lucky to see them become National Champions again last year. He had a great sense of humor, which helped him endure a lot of ribbing when he started working in Ohio, the home of that School Down South. He loved to read and attend concerts and make an annual trip to the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, with Nancy and friends. Spending time with his grandchildren and their spouses during the last years brought him great joy. He was over the moon when he became a great-grandfather.

In addition to his parents and Nancy, Joel is predeceased by his brother Ted C. Zrull and sister-in-law Mary Lou Savage Zrull; his brother Eric Ansell Zrull; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ell Rose and Bill Love; and his brother-in-law Clinton R. Gaylord. He is survived by his son, Mark (Natalie Oransky); daughter, Lisa (Jim) Saintsing; his grandchildren, Katie (Sam Logan) Saintsing, Tom (Mary) Saintsing, Andrew Saintsing, and Mary Margaret Zrull; a great-granddaughter and another on the way; his sister-in-law Donna Gaylord; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and their children.

The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at Pennybyrn for supporting Joel over the last couple of years. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, 1140 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois 60607, mercyhome.org; St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, Mont. 59004, stlabre.org; or another charity that supports the well-being of children or a foundation that seeks to find ways to prevent, treat, or cure macular degeneration.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 12 p.m., at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 2203 W. Market Street, with a brief visitation at the side chapel located on the Chapman Street entrance starting at 11:30 a.m. Entombment will follow the Mass at Westminster Gardens Mausoleum, 3601 Whitehurst Road.

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the Zrull family with arrangements. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com