Joan W Wilharm

A long-time resident of the Village of Chagrin Falls, Joan Weaver Wilharm was born in Canton, Ohio on March 24, 1934 and passed away on November 12, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth Carter Weaver and Ursula Morgan Weaver, and her brother, Richard David Weaver.

After graduating from high school in Canton, she attended Ohio Wesleyan University, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics and Business Administration. Joan completed advanced studies at Kent State University and Case Western Reserve University as well.

Upon graduation in 1956, she was employed by The East Ohio Gas Company in Canton as a Home Service Representative, giving cooking classes to groups and school classes, as well as preparing food for television productions. In two years, she was promoted to the East Ohio Gas Company’s home office in Cleveland as Director of Kitchen Planning.

1959 saw Joan accept an offer from The Cleveland Plain Dealer to become its Associate Home Economics Editor. She ran the paper’s test kitchen, publishing hundreds of tested recipes and creating color photographs for the paper’s  Sunday supplement. Joan continued in this position until she married and had her first child in 1963.

Joan married John H. Wilharm, Jr., a Cleveland lawyer, on June 2, 1962 and proceeded to raise a family of four, Catherine (Ben Knox) of Orlando, FL, Laura (Wade Fricke) of Chagrin Falls, OH, Julie (Chris Clark) of Cumming, GA, and John (Monique) of Glen Ellyn, IL.

Joan was blessed to have eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Parker, Morgan and Dillon Knox; Payton, Pierce and Lucy Fricke; Raleigh and Wesley Clark; Alexandra, John IV (Jack) and Marlena Wilharm; and great granddaughter, Catherine Ford.

In addition to running a busy household, which she did with great skill and love, Joan enjoyed her volunteer work at UH McDonald House, the Junior League as both a Trustee and Officer, Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Ronald McDonald House. Joan also enjoyed her Dogwood Valley Garden Club, particularly helping to “plant the Village” each Spring. She was an active participant in golf and tennis throughout her life.

A private family service will be held. Anyone wishing to make a contribution in her memory can donate to the Ohio Wesleyan University Fund, 61 South Sandusky St., Delaware, OH, 43015 or The Dogwood Valley Garden Club, PO Box 416, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022.