Joan Marie Bettinger

Joan Marie (Myers) Bettinger, age 73 of Swanton, Ohio entered into heaven on Friday morning, January 4, 2019, at the Cleveland Clinic from complications following a bone marrow transplant.  Joan was born April 7, 1945 in Swanton, Ohio along with her twin brother, John.  Joan was the youngest of 5 siblings and 2 half siblings.  She graduated from Swanton High School in 1963, and attended Bowling Green State University.  On October 15, 1966, Joan married Ronald Bettinger, her childhood sweetheart.  

Joan was a devoted wife and mother, full of love for her family and friends.  Her greatest joy was loving and caring for her family.  Whenever her grandkids came home from college to visit, she made sure they returned to school with an abundance of homemade cookies.  She was always there to lend a helping hand and to care for others at any time.  She enjoyed supporting the family greenhouse activities and always greeted others with a friendly smile and gentle hug.  During the demanding and hectic flower season at the greenhouse, Joan still found time to provide homemade meals for the family.

Joan enjoyed spending time at Devil’s Lake where, for 18 years, she and Ron entertained family and friends at their lake cottage. While there, she loved relaxing on the deck, enjoying her beautiful yard and watching the kids play in the water.

She had a knack for gardening and was blessed with the greenest of thumbs.  Her garden beds were abundant with petunias and other flowers, and she could often be seen in the warmer months riding her lawn mower wearing her infamous straw hat.  She was rightfully proud of her children Tammy and Brian, and always had a sweet smile on her face and a sincere twinkle in her eye when she talked about her grandchildren with delight.

Joan is survived by Ronald, her loving husband of 52 years; mother-in-law, Marie (Miller) Bettinger; daughter Tamara Bettinger-McClain, and son Brian (Deborah) Bettinger; grandchildren, Megan and Tyler McClain, Brandon (Leslie) Bettinger and Brittany Bettinger; sisters, Marynette Hipp, Bonnie (Thomas) Bollinger, Donna (Peter) Pollex Najarian and twin brother John (Valerie) Myers and many nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester and Cora (Sprow) Myers; father-in-law, Leonard Bettinger; and half siblings, Roberta Russell and Melvin Myers.

The family wishes to extend sincere gratitude to the staff at Cleveland Clinic for the loving care, dedication and support provided to Joan during her bone marrow transplant and physical struggles over the past months.  The Clinic staff provided the most wonderful care and always maintained the ultimate in professionalism.  A special thanks to her sister Donna and niece Jan Reimer. 

Friends and family may visit Friday, January 11th from 2 PM to 8 PM at the Weigel Funeral Home in Swanton, where a Vigil Service will be held at 7:30 PM.  Visitation will continue Saturday, January 12th from 10-11 AM at St. Richard Catholic Church, Swanton where a Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 AM, with Father Adam Hertzfeld presiding.

A luncheon at Clancy Hall will immediately follow the Mass, and graveside Committal Rites will take place at Marygrove Cemetery at 2:30 PM Saturday afternoon.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Marygrove Cemetery Maintenance Fund or to a charity of the donor’s choice.