“Alzheimer’s disease slowly dissolved his memory, but his smile never completely went away. Nor did the love they had nurtured for nearly 60 years. Now, after his death, she tells their story, looking not only at the past but to the future.”
- From the back cover

Joanne Niswander of Bluffton, a familiar essayist and columnist to Icon viewers, has released a book “An Alzheimer’s Primer: Lessons for Living, Dying and Living Again.” It tells about the 10-year Alzheimer’s journey with her husband, Dean, who died in 2010. It also tells about Joanne’s life “coming out” after the 10-year experience.

The 122-page book, while easy to read, is difficult to detach from because of the personal coverage “reported” in journal style by the author.

“I’ve never written anything this long,” said Joanne in a conversation with The Icon. “I wrote in retrospect and thought that maybe it will explain the disease and will help other people who may be going through this.”

Joanne, who keeps a journal, has included many journal entries in the book. Those are printed in italic and stand out in a helpful way to the reader.

Jeanne and Dean’s Alzheimer’s journey started in 1999. “Dean began to experience anxieties,” she said, adding, “We had a good experience through Alzheimer’s. Dean’s personality was friendly and we had wonderful memories.”

Dean was a lifelong Bluffton resident, graduating from Bluffton High School and Bluffton College and was in business for many years with his father, C.F. Niswander, who owned a Main Street farm implement dealership. Joanne grew up in Illinois. The two met while students at Bluffton College. They were married in 1950.

The couple moved to Maple Crest 10 years ago, and Joanne says that it has become a real home for them.

“Dean knew what he had. In September 2003 he started taking Aricept, an Alzheimer’s medication. And in the next few months, he became very interested in finding out more about the disease,” Joanne said.

The book’s 10 chapters reveal the direction of the story line. Chapters in chronological order are: Introduction, Before the Beginning, Finding Our Way, Half Widow, Nursing Home, Final Days, In Memoriam, Living Again, and Afterword.

The book carries several Bluffton connections. It is published by Workplay Publishing of Bluffton, a book publishing company owned by Andre’ Swartley. Alison L. King of Bluffton, designed the cover.

Joanne will discuss the book during a First Mennonite Church, “First Night,” program on Wednesday, Oct. 3. She will be available following the program to sell and sign copies.

Maple Crest will hold a “meet the author” program from 2 to 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 15, in its Patio Room. Joanne will be one of the author’s recognized at that program and will have books on hand.

The book is available at Greg’s Pharmacy and the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center. The book is available from Amazon.com.

Author: Joanne Niswander
Title: An Alzheimer’s Primer: Lessons for Living, Dying and Living Again
Publisher: Workplay Publishing Co., Bluffton, Ohio
ISBN: 978-0-9842122-6-2
Price: $12