Joan L (Brown) Kimmel

Joan L Kimmel passed away on March 21, 2023, at 81 years of age. Joan will be forever loved by many. Joan was born in Dayton Ohio on December 2, 1941. She lived the majority of her life with her husband Marshall in Gallia County Ohio caring for countless beings.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents David and Laura Jones Brown, siblings Dick (Kaaren) Brown and Ann (Harry) Gray.

Joan is survived by Marshall Kimmel, her beloved husband of 57 years, her children, Chris (Sherri) Kimmel, Melissa Kimmel, and Kelli (George) Snyder, grandchildren, Kaitlynn “Sage” Kimmel, Hunter Snyder, and William Snyder, siblings, Sue (Russ) Henry, David “Mickey” Brown, and Lawrence “Larry” Brown, along with many nieces and nephews.  Joan is also survived by many non-biological children that she adored.

Joan and Marshall met at Rio Grande College, they dated for several years, and married in 1965, at the United Methodist Church in West Carrolton. They remained married for 57 years and still like each other now. She dedicated a significant amount of time trying to wrangle her children into functioning adults.

Joan was a lifelong educator, with the majority of her time spent at Cadmus Elementary and, later, Southwestern Elementary, as a specialized teacher for remedial math and reading and then began tutoring adults at the University of Rio Grande in math. Joan and her family have often been told that without her, there would be many people who would not know how to math. After her retirement she spent over 20 years as an aqua-aerobics for arthritis instructor and delighted in her time with the girls. She also enjoyed fostering animals and transporting dogs and cats to rescue for the Friends of Gallia County’s Animals.

Joan endured years of good-natured teasing by her children and other loved ones on variety of topics including her legendary stubbornness, her dedication to looking for the good in people and other beings, and her love of Christmas mice.  

A time of remembrance will be had at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023, in the Cremeens-King Funeral Home, Gallipolis, with visitation two hours prior. If you would like to attend the service, please remember that Joan was bright light so please wear happy colors. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Friends of Gallia County’s, Animals, your local animal rescue or shelter, or grab a dog or cat off the street and neuter them.

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