Joan Welter

Joan Elizabeth Gstader Welter was born to Norbert and Florence Gstalder on February 7, 1938 in Toledo, Ohio. She was raised in the shadow of the High Level Bridge in Good Shepherd Parish on Toledo’s Eastside. Her Dad worked at an oil refinery.

She loved her two older brothers, Jack, 13 years older and Bob, 10 years older.

She was a child of the Depression and grew up during World War Two as her big brothers joined the Navy.

She was very intelligent and received a scholarship to college. While in College, she met her future husband, Donald Joseph Welter. Donald said she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

They were married in September 1958. She was deeply impacted by a miscarriage she had the following year. She had three sons within the next four years, all before her 26th birthday.

As a young mother, a calcified tumor was found in her skull, which had caused her to have migraine headaches for over 40 years.

She was very passionate about several issues and would write well thought out letters to the Editor of the Columbus newspaper. She was very surprised when the Bishop of Columbus called her and personally thanked her for one of her letters.

She enjoyed looking at catalogs and decorating residences they had in Columbus, Cincinnati, Westerville, New York and Texas.

She enjoyed singing, had been in a Church Choir and was entertained by Musicals.

She is survived by her sons, who she was very proud of, Joseph (Barbara), John (Patricia), and James (Maria), Grandchildren, Michael (Emma), Daniel, Mary(Shawn), Patrick (Amanda), Jenna, Justin (Sarah), Christopher (Tara), Jacob, and Great Grandchildren, Emma , Johnny and Austin.

Joan’s ashes will be interred next to Donald at Resurrection Cemetery at 9571 North High Street in Lewis Center, Ohio with a Catholic Service at a date to be determined in April.