(1958 Graduate Of Montpelier High School)
Joanne D. Allison, 86 years of Bryan, passed away Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg. Joanne was born January 6, 1940, in Montpelier, Ohio, the daughter of the late Donald and Margaret (Meyer) Richolt.
Joanne began her education in a one-room country school. She graduated from Montpelier High School in 1958.
She met her future husband, Larry Allison, at the Bryan Roller Rink when she was 16, and together they enjoyed many hours of ballroom-style dance skating.
They were married three years later, December 18, 1959, at the Bryan First Church of Christ, and he preceded her in death on April 19, 2011.
Joanne had a strong Christian faith, so a relationship with her Lord was important to her, and she loved Christian music.
She was a church pianist for more than 70 years, starting at the age of 12. She loved working with children, and she was a Sunday School teacher for over 40 years. She also served in the Women’s Ministry, on the Missions Committee and many other places in the church.
She and her husband Larry led the youth group for several years. Joanne volunteered on the Bryan Area Prayer Breakfast committee. She was also a Den Mother, Den Leader Coach, and secretary of the Boy Scout Troop.
Joanne worked at various office positions, including Bard Manufacturing, General Telephone Company, Administrative Assistant at Federal Land Bank, and a paralegal for Hogue, Dwyer, Bish and Lowe Attorneys. She retired from Allied Moulded Products after 23 years in the Human Resources Department.
Above all Joanne loved and supported her family. As her children grew up and married, family get-togethers were a pleasure for her, and she enjoyed watching and playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed camping with her husband, family, and friends.
In her later years, she became interested in genealogy and served as the President of the Defiance County Genealogy Society and researched and recorded family history for two published books for the local libraries, and two other books for her family.
With the help of her daughter-in-law, Joanne and Kathy took a trip to Germany where her ancestors had lived and even met some cousins there.
Surviving is her sister, Dona Jean (Paul) Manley of Huntersville, North Carolina; three children, Steven (Kathy) Allison of Vienna, Austria, Mark (Kay) Allison of Toledo, and Christine (Christopher) Porter of Farmington Hills, Michigan; nine grandchildren, Joy Allison, Hannah Allison, Caleb (Corinne) Allison, Daniel Allison, Josiah (Freja) Allison, Jeremy Allison, Annika Porter, Maia Porter and Jonas Porter; three great-grandchildren, Asher, Caden and Beckett with another on the way.
Visitation for Joanne will be held Friday, March 20, 2026, from 3-7 p.m. in the Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home, 206 North Lynn Street, Bryan. Visitation will continue on Saturday, March 21, 2026, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Bryan First Church of Christ, 129 North Walnut Street, Bryan, followed by funeral services beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, in the Church, with Pastor Larry Snavely officiating. Interment will follow in Shiffler Cemetery, Bryan.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that those planning an expression of sympathy to consider memorial contributions be made to Bryan First Church of Christ.
Condolences may be sent to the family, or memories may be shared at www.oberlinturnbull.com.