Obituary of Joan Marie Keller
Joan Marie Shackleton was born on February 15, 1941 in Berea, Ohio. She was one of three children born from the union of the late Fred E. Shackleton and the late Bernice E. (Nash) Shackleton. Joan attended Buckeye High School in Medina, Ohio.
At the age of 17, Joan moved to Germany with her first love and husband, Carl Wichert, where she traveled Europe and gathered experiences to share for a lifetime.
On April 14, 1972 she married her husband of 41 years, Raymond Keller. They resided and experienced the lake life on Toledo Beach Marina.
Joan was a woman of many gifts and talents. A loving mother, she was strong-willed, with a positive philosophy of life and a heart for serving others.
She was a smart business woman as she owned and operated two family businesses. Serve and Save Catering, Joan was well known for her talent of cooking. Lake Erie Emergency Service, where she became known as “Joanie K” the marine radio voice of comfort for boaters on the Western End of Lake Erie. She was very well respected by the Toledo Coast Guard and Sarnia Coast Guard, Canada, for her efforts in helping stranded boaters.
Joan’s foundation of life was based on her passion for music. She began playing the piano at the age of three. She had the ability to play by ear and also read music. She was an accomplished music composer who was compared to the talent of George Gershwin by New York professionals. During her lifetime she had the ability to play twenty-seven different instruments. The best family times occurred when she sang and played her banjo uke and accordion with her sisters: June Kwiatkowski of Marblehead, Ohio and Jean (James) Decker of Olmsted Falls, Ohio.
Joan was an avid sports fan. Joan cheered on her teams the Notre Dame Irish, Dallas Cowboys, and her favorite sport baseball, the Detroit Tigers. Horse racing was another family favorite and preparations for the Kentucky Derby always seemed to resemble a holiday. In her free time, Joan had a fascination with learning world history and her favorite leader Queen Elizabeth. She also managed to find solace in gardening.
Joan Marie Keller, age 76, of Monroe passed away at 5:45pm on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at ProMedica Ebeid Hospice Residence in Sylvania. In addition to her parents her passing was preceded by her son, Keith Wichert, December 1978; and her husband: Raymond in November 2013.
To cherish her memory she leaves behind one son: Stephen (Dawn) Keller of Wyandotte; one daughter Rae Rembowski of Luna Pier; five step children: Terry (Chris) Keller of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Raymond (Ann) Keller of Marblehead, Ohio, Thomas Keller of Marblehead, Lynn (Jay) Silverwood of Marblehead, Robert (Kim) Keller of Port Clinton , three grandchildren: Ritchie, Jacob, Erica; and many step grandchildren.
Friends may gather at 10:30am on Monday, May 15, 2017 at Roselawn Memorial Park, 13200 South Dixie Highway in LaSalle for a graveside service. Reverend Mike Gilbert of Brookstone Christian Academy will officiate. Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe; 14567 South Dixie Highway (734) 241-7070 has been entrusted with her arrangements.
Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the pharmacists of Kroger Pharmacy S. Monroe St. Monroe, Michigan, Critical and Pulmonary Specialists of Maumee, Ohio and Ebeid Hospice.
Donations in memory of Joan may be made to the Salvation Army of Monroe, Michigan.