Joyce I. (Marckel) Mohr

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joyce Irene (Marckel) Mohr. Joyce was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on September 15, 2022, at her home in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Joyce had suffered from normal pressure hydrocephalus for the past eight years and is now at peace and with God. Joyce was born February 18, 1935, in Toledo, Ohio, to Arnold D. Marckel and Florence (Smolenske) Marckel. 
The family moved to the Defiance area when she was a young child and she attended elementary school in Ayersville. They then moved to the Hoffman farm on U.S. 24 and she began attending Defiance City Schools. She met the love of her life, John J. Mohr, when she was just a young girl of 13. Their courtship flourished and they were married on June 6, 1953, just one week after her high school graduation. As a teenager, Joyce helped with the daily milking of the cows before school and the farm life helped her become the hard worker she was known to be throughout her life. Her early married years were filled with caring for their four children, and simultaneously being the ‘classroom mother’ for all of them, baking the best cookies for every holiday for those classrooms and for any friends and family that visited their home. Her chocolate chip cookies and “Aunt Gusties” frosted sugar cookies were the favorites. She also sewed many of her children’s clothes and always made every holiday and birthday a special occasion. She was a Girl Scout leader for her daughters’ troops, was an active PTA member, and taught Sunday school at St. John’s United Church of Christ where she was a member since its inception in 1960.When their children were in high school Joyce took a job outside the home at Defiance Clinic, working in the record room, eventually becoming the supervisor and a surrogate “mom” to many of the young women working alongside her. She worked there for over 20 years until her retirement in 1994. After retirement, Joyce and Johnny took many wonderful trips together, often with family members, to different locations across the U.S. and throughout Europe. They enjoyed a beautiful life together for nearly 75 years, having celebrated 69 years of marriage this past June. 
Left behind to mourn her passing are her beloved husband, Johnny, their surviving children, Michelle Mohr DeWine, Peggy Mohr (David) Christiansen and Dr. James J. Mohr, along with daughter-in-law, Lisa (Mohr) Ulam; nine grandchildren, Sarah (John) Leslie, Katie (Davis) Morgan, Courtney (Brad) Lewis, Chris (Tori) Mohr, Ben (Chelsea Dyer) Mohr, Anna (Andy) Smith, Mary Mohr, Katherine Mohr and Samuel J. Mohr, and 10 great-grand-children. Joyce is also survived by her brother, Fred (Lucy) Marckel and sister, Marilyn Ryan, along with many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, sister, Patricia (Marckel) Dallape, her youngest son, Samuel A. Mohr, Esq., daughter-in-law, Dr. Evelyn Pintz Mohr and son-in-law, Rick DeWine. 
Visitation will be on Friday, October 21, 2022, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance. A celebration of life service will be held at St. John’s UCC, 950 Webster St. in Defiance on Saturday, October 22, 2022, with visitation from 10-11 a.m., service at 11:00 a.m. and a luncheon to follow in the church fellowship hall. A private family burial will follow at Poplar Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Joyce’s honor to the Defiance Ravens Care. 

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