JoAnn Bohon Marsh (nee’ Colman) was born to Marie Angeline (nee’ Dykhuis) and William Moore Colman on July 15,1932 in the Chicago/OakPark, IL area and went to be with the LORD on March 11, 2023.
Although JoAnn was an only child, she became the matriarch and rock of a large family, whose slogan is “Are you OK?” She endured many historic events, including being born during the Great Depression. She met the first love of her life, D. Dean Bohon at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO, where she participated in theater, the Alpha Xi Delta sorority, and graduated with degrees in Music and Art. After marriage they taught elementary school in Chicago, then in Quincy, IL, where they started their family. They moved to Ohio in 1962. While God blessed them with 4 children, Dean went home to the LORD in 1972, when they were living in Worthington, OH, and JoAnn raised her young children as a single mother until she met the second love of her life, Jere C. Marsh in the Worthington Presbyterian Church choir. In later 1974 they became a his, hers and ours family with the addition of Jere’s two sons and their baby daughter. They all moved to Wilmington, DE in 1976. In the middle of raising a boisterous family of 7 children, JoAnn was widowed again in 1990, but with God’s help this only increased her strength and resolve to live. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, pancreatitis, lymphoma, and vertigo she demonstrated complete fearless faith that Christ Jesus walked with her daily and exemplified His compassion to her family and friends.
JoAnn was active in Opera Delaware for many years and created costumes for the performances with her good friends in that organization, including 30 ballgowns for La Traviata. Over the years she enjoyed directing children’s choirs, both singing in and directing adult choirs, painting, crafting to raise money for charitable causes, leading a Girl Scout Brownie troop, gardening, swimming (including Synchronized Swim Team in H.S.), camping, shopping with her offspring, reading and touring the world with her travel buddies. JoAnn especially enjoyed her beach house in Bethany Beach, DE, which she owned in the latter part of her life, while eating shrimp and blue crabs accompanied with a vodka tonic.
JoAnn was predeceased by her son John Lee Marsh; her two husbands; grandchildren Dara Ann, David Dean, and Rachel Louise Hugelmeyer.
JoAnn’s mission to pass on her sweet independent stubbornness and compassion to the generations after her came to completion upon having a severe stroke. She is survived by children Kim McGinty (Daniel); Scott Bohon; David Marsh; Jennifer Hugelmeyer (Bruce); Jonathan Bohon Marsh (Kelly); Melissa Truitt (Gregg); by her grandchildren Katie Kolbe (Derek), Megan Fletcher (Brian), Stephanie McGinty, Emily McGinty, Caleb Bohon (Alyssa), Heather Bohon, Daniel Bohon, Micah Bohon, Anna Bohon, JP Hugelmeyer (Katie), Addie Hugelmeyer, JoEllen Hugelmeyer, Sarah Donaldson (Cameron), Dean Marsh, Nate Marsh, Alexandra Leyton; by her great grandchildren Quinton, Colson and Cara Kolbe; Natalee, Seneca and Dakota Fletcher; Eddie McGinty-Howard; Walter, Esther, Dietrich and Roger Bohon; Jonathan Bartolome; CJ and Aubrey Hugelmeyer; Zoey Donaldson. She will be missed but we will all be ok.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to American Cancer Society, SPCA, AmVets or the American Red Cross.
Viewing at 12:30 p.m. on March 17, 2023 will be followed immediately by funeral services at 2:00 p.m. at Concord Presbyterian Church, 1800 Fairfax Blvd, Wilmington, DE 19803. The wake will follow services and be held at the Hugelmeyer’s.
JoAnn’s memorial slideshow may be viewed here
