In Memory Of
Joan Elsensohn Herr
1930
2020
Joan Elsensohn Herr
February 10, 1930 — April 14, 2020
Joan Elsensohn Herr, age 90 of Dublin and Upper Arlington, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday April 14, 2020, after a short battle with leukemia.
Born Margaret Joanne (she later changed her name to Joan) to John and Mildred Elsensohn on February 10, 1930 in Pomeroy, a small farm town in the Palouse area of eastern Washington, a land of huge rolling hills of wheat fields sliced through by the mighty Columbia River. She spent her early years on the family farm with her younger sister, Jean, helping with the cooking and other tasks that keep a large farm operating. Affectionately called "the home place", the house and farm still look very much like it did when she was growing up.
After completing her undergraduate studies at Washington State University in Pullman, WA, and graduate work at The Ohio State University (OSU), she became a Registered Dietitian and eventually taught as a professor of Human Nutrition at OSU for over 20 years.
Even as a young woman, Joan had a taste for adventure, traveling to Ireland as part of the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE). An IFYE event in New York City ignited a spark between Joan and a young handsome man from a dairy farm family in Lodi, Ohio, Donald Herr. Three years later, they married in Joan's hometown on April 17, 1954.
With both gaining teaching jobs at The Ohio State University, they moved to Columbus with their two young sons. Weekends were filled with tent camping or riding bicycles around the neighborhood collecting soda bottles to turn in for $.02 each.
With teen boys in tow, Joan and Don, opted for an assignment in India as part of the OSU overseas extension service, with Joan in the Punjab advising on nutrition and Don in Haryana focused on weed control in irrigation canals. The family had amazing travels throughout Asia in the 1970's, Joan augmenting the local diet with a suitcase stocked with familiar "American" specialties like Carnation Instant Breakfast, Vienna sausage, tuna fish, powdered milk, and peanut butter.
Back in the US, Joan settled into a career teaching nutrition at The Ohio State University, raised two caring sons, and was the catalyst in building community around their home in Upper Arlington. She retired from teaching in 1985, as she and Don then traveled extensively. They moved from Upper Arlington to Friendship Village of Dublin (FVD) in 2011. Until recently, you could always find her at sunrise at the McConnell Health Center or FVD Fitness pool, on the weight machines, rower or treadmill, or water walking with other early-birds who became close friends.
If a few words could summarize the impact Joan had on others, they would be -- genuine care and concern, diligence, creative energy, kindness, compassion, and hospitality. OSU students long past have remembered her as one of the more impactful teachers they've ever had--practical, realistic, and concerned about each individual. She was generous with her time and her efforts for those who wanted help. When she saw a need, she felt driven to assist however she could and take no recognition for her efforts.
Neighbors remember her thoughtfulness and inclusive spirit. Always the one to initiate the welcome party for a new homeowner, the farewell party for a friend moving away. When someone was feeling alone, Joan invited them for a meal, sent a hand-written card, a basket of produce from her garden, or perhaps a plate of homemade cookies or bread. Residents at FVD remember her kindness and hospitality in personally welcoming new members into the community. She seemed to always be thinking of ways to bring a smile to someone's day, and gifts of her blueberry scones or home-made caramels were highly prized. When Joan felt something needed doing, she got it done. When Don was diagnosed with dementia and eventually Alzheimer's, she was a stalwart caregiver and a vocal advocate for those affected. She felt a personal responsibility to give Don the best care at home he could get until she was no longer able. She became an active volunteer with the Central Ohio Alzheimer's Association First Friday program. While living at Friendship Village of Dublin, she was active in multiple resident committees, and served as President of the Resident's Association, and then FVD's Resident Director until January 2020. To honor her love of plants and Don's agronomy specialty, they planned and funded the Selene Garden at FVD, a contemplative garden space centered on a beautiful coneflower sculpture and fountain.
Joan E. Herr, in her quiet gracious way, demonstrated the leadership we could all use now—warm, genuine, determined, and generous. Marked with a humility and selflessness that is not often seen. Joan was a friend to so many and she cared deeply about each and every one of those connections.
A loving wife and mother, she is missed greatly by her sons and daughters-in-law, John and Sue (Knight) of Henderson, NV, and Douglas (Ben) and Jane Maliszewski of Dublin, OH. Her husband, Don, passed away on February 1 of this year.
Joan's wishes are that there will not be a formal funeral service. She will be cremated and later interred with her pre-deceased husband, Don, at the family cemetery in Pomeroy, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to The Foundation for End-of-Life Care Charitable Fund at Capital City Hospice (https://capitalcityhospice.com ) whose angels of mercy, Lee, Amanda, Florence, and Sheila, made her final days as peaceful and comfortable as possible, or to the Herr Family Endowment at the Scharre Center, providing support to caregivers of patients with cognitive disorders (https://www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/?fund=643180).
Arrangements are being handled by Newcomer Funeral Home of Columbus (https://www.newcomercolumbus.com/).
A favorite of Joan's--
Native American Prayer
I give you this one thought to keep --
I am with you still – I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone –
I am with you still – in each new dawn.
Born Margaret Joanne (she later changed her name to Joan) to John and Mildred Elsensohn on February 10, 1930 in Pomeroy, a small farm town in the Palouse area of eastern Washington, a land of huge rolling hills of wheat fields sliced through by the mighty Columbia River. She spent her early years on the family farm with her younger sister, Jean, helping with the cooking and other tasks that keep a large farm operating. Affectionately called "the home place", the house and farm still look very much like it did when she was growing up.
After completing her undergraduate studies at Washington State University in Pullman, WA, and graduate work at The Ohio State University (OSU), she became a Registered Dietitian and eventually taught as a professor of Human Nutrition at OSU for over 20 years.
Even as a young woman, Joan had a taste for adventure, traveling to Ireland as part of the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE). An IFYE event in New York City ignited a spark between Joan and a young handsome man from a dairy farm family in Lodi, Ohio, Donald Herr. Three years later, they married in Joan's hometown on April 17, 1954.
With both gaining teaching jobs at The Ohio State University, they moved to Columbus with their two young sons. Weekends were filled with tent camping or riding bicycles around the neighborhood collecting soda bottles to turn in for $.02 each.
With teen boys in tow, Joan and Don, opted for an assignment in India as part of the OSU overseas extension service, with Joan in the Punjab advising on nutrition and Don in Haryana focused on weed control in irrigation canals. The family had amazing travels throughout Asia in the 1970's, Joan augmenting the local diet with a suitcase stocked with familiar "American" specialties like Carnation Instant Breakfast, Vienna sausage, tuna fish, powdered milk, and peanut butter.
Back in the US, Joan settled into a career teaching nutrition at The Ohio State University, raised two caring sons, and was the catalyst in building community around their home in Upper Arlington. She retired from teaching in 1985, as she and Don then traveled extensively. They moved from Upper Arlington to Friendship Village of Dublin (FVD) in 2011. Until recently, you could always find her at sunrise at the McConnell Health Center or FVD Fitness pool, on the weight machines, rower or treadmill, or water walking with other early-birds who became close friends.
If a few words could summarize the impact Joan had on others, they would be -- genuine care and concern, diligence, creative energy, kindness, compassion, and hospitality. OSU students long past have remembered her as one of the more impactful teachers they've ever had--practical, realistic, and concerned about each individual. She was generous with her time and her efforts for those who wanted help. When she saw a need, she felt driven to assist however she could and take no recognition for her efforts.
Neighbors remember her thoughtfulness and inclusive spirit. Always the one to initiate the welcome party for a new homeowner, the farewell party for a friend moving away. When someone was feeling alone, Joan invited them for a meal, sent a hand-written card, a basket of produce from her garden, or perhaps a plate of homemade cookies or bread. Residents at FVD remember her kindness and hospitality in personally welcoming new members into the community. She seemed to always be thinking of ways to bring a smile to someone's day, and gifts of her blueberry scones or home-made caramels were highly prized. When Joan felt something needed doing, she got it done. When Don was diagnosed with dementia and eventually Alzheimer's, she was a stalwart caregiver and a vocal advocate for those affected. She felt a personal responsibility to give Don the best care at home he could get until she was no longer able. She became an active volunteer with the Central Ohio Alzheimer's Association First Friday program. While living at Friendship Village of Dublin, she was active in multiple resident committees, and served as President of the Resident's Association, and then FVD's Resident Director until January 2020. To honor her love of plants and Don's agronomy specialty, they planned and funded the Selene Garden at FVD, a contemplative garden space centered on a beautiful coneflower sculpture and fountain.
Joan E. Herr, in her quiet gracious way, demonstrated the leadership we could all use now—warm, genuine, determined, and generous. Marked with a humility and selflessness that is not often seen. Joan was a friend to so many and she cared deeply about each and every one of those connections.
A loving wife and mother, she is missed greatly by her sons and daughters-in-law, John and Sue (Knight) of Henderson, NV, and Douglas (Ben) and Jane Maliszewski of Dublin, OH. Her husband, Don, passed away on February 1 of this year.
Joan's wishes are that there will not be a formal funeral service. She will be cremated and later interred with her pre-deceased husband, Don, at the family cemetery in Pomeroy, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to The Foundation for End-of-Life Care Charitable Fund at Capital City Hospice (https://capitalcityhospice.com ) whose angels of mercy, Lee, Amanda, Florence, and Sheila, made her final days as peaceful and comfortable as possible, or to the Herr Family Endowment at the Scharre Center, providing support to caregivers of patients with cognitive disorders (https://www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/?fund=643180).
Arrangements are being handled by Newcomer Funeral Home of Columbus (https://www.newcomercolumbus.com/).
A favorite of Joan's--
Native American Prayer
I give you this one thought to keep --
I am with you still – I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone –
I am with you still – in each new dawn.
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