Joanne Miriam Vercler Niswander, 93, of Bluffton passed away on October 8, 2022. Joanne was born September 24, 1929 on a farm in Meadows, Illinois to the late Elmer and Naomi (Claudon) Vercler. Joanne graduated from Chenoa High School in Chenoa, Illinois and Bluffton College.
She met Dean Niswander at Bluffton College and they married on August 20, 1950. She and her husband Dean lived in Bluffton where they enjoyed raising their six children, were active with the community, church, and school. In 1964 they moved to Okemos, Michigan. While there, Joanne was a secretary at Okemos schools, and later served as secretary to Lansing District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church. In 1976, they moved to Gibsonburg, Ohio where Joanne was a docent at the Toledo Museum of Art until 1990. In 1991, Dean and Joanne moved back to Bluffton where they both volunteered for Bluffton College, traveling across the country as Alumni Ambassadors for nine years. They were honored as Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna of Bluffton College in 1996 and received the first Ray Ramseyer Philanthropy Award in 2003.
Dean and Joanne traveled extensively across the country and across the world with family and friends. Music held a special place in Joanne's life leading her to sing in many musical groups throughout her life and playing organ at various churches wherever she was living at the time. Joanne was a member of the First Mennonite Church, Bluffton, and the Telesis Club in Bluffton. She was in book and writing clubs and authored 8 books, countless newspaper and online columns, reflections, and library book reviews. Over 16 years, she and others at Maple Crest “raised” 542 Monarch butterflies, successfully releasing them to the wild. She also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and reading.
Joanne was preceded in death by husband Dean, brother Norman Vercler, and son-in-law, Dan Allan. Survivors include six children, Frederick (Debi) Niswander of Greenville, North Carolina, Jeanne (John) Manganaro of Corrales, New Mexico, Mark (Mike Phillips) Niswander of Surprise, Arizona, Lee (Richard Davis) Niswander of Denver, Colorado, Thomas (Nancy) Niswander of Turtletown, Tennessee, Kay Allan of Thomaston, Maine; twelve grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, October 29, 2022 at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton with Pastor Phil Yoder officiating. The family will receive friends one half hour prior to the service and following the service at the church. There will also be a light meal following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Mennonite Church, Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio (Maple Crest), the Dean and Joanne Niswander Scholarship at Bluffton University, or the Swiss Community Historical Society.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
