Joann Ophardt

Our much loved Joann Louise (Post) Ophardt has left us rather suddenly on May 30, 2024 at the age of 79 after her recent birthday on May 4 (1945-2024).  Joann is survived by her devoted and loving husband, Charles, and her son Peter and his wife Holly (Hewitt), and her three grand children Allison, Callen, and Olivia.  She is survived by her sisters, Suzanne (Post) Struckmann, and Thelma (Post) and Ron Hudson. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Joann was preceded in death by her parents John and Thelma (Oakes) Post, her brother John Post, and brother-in-law, Rev. Otto Struckmann.

Joann was born in Elma, New York and lived her formative years in a house that her father built on an acre lot.  Her mother, Thelma, taught Joann the house hold skills of baking and canning vegetables from their huge gardens.  She became the ultimate host for parties and dinners. In addition, Joann learned her knitting and crocheting skills from her mother and over a lifetime has probably knit sweaters and afghans that number a hundred or more. 

Joann graduated from Iroquois Central high school in 1962.  She graduated from St. Paul’s College in Concordia, MO with an Associate degree  and continued at Concordia University, River Forest, IL with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Teaching with minor in Music. She met Charles at Concordia and they were married a week after graduation on June 5, 1966. Her first teaching job (1st and 2nd grade and all music) was at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Murphysburo, IL, where she also earned  a PhT (Putting Hubby Through) while Charles earned his PhD in Chemistry at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. Joann and Charles moved to Lombard, IL when Charles was hired as Professor at Elmhurst University in 1970. 

Joann and Charles had their son Peter in 1971.  She at first stayed home with Peter until he started preschool when she moved back into teaching. Joann moved through a series of teaching jobs while she earned a Masters degree in Special Education from National Louis University at night. After getting that degree, she taught in a Self Contained Special Education classroom in five different schools over a period of 20 years in the Lombard School District.  Again she went back to University and earned a Certificate of Advanced Study (one step below a PhD) in reading.  Joann finished her teaching career as a reading specialist. 

After retiring in 2007, Joann and Charles moved to Phoenix, AZ to be close to Peter and Holly and three grandchildren, Allison, Callen, and Olivia. She loved  to be with the family and had many  wonderful memories of reading to and playing with the grandchildren.  She insisted that the house have a swimming pool where she and Charles spent many good times with the family and grandchildren. Joann loved to watch the grandkids sports activities, mainly lacrosse.  In later years she still came to the games even though she could not see and was all bundled up from the cold.

Joann kept busy with church activities including VBS, a knitting group, Sages and FAB groups, and Wednesday evening suppers.  Joann and Charles enjoyed a variety of travel activities including multiple cruises and two Germany trips with Pastor Ken Lentz.  Her favorite destination was to all 30 baseball parks in following her beloved Yankees.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to the following organizations that were very dear to Joann's heart and her interests in Special Education, Canyon State Academy (etapestry.com), 20061 S Rittenhouse Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 and Mountain View Lutheran Church | Home (mvlutheran.org) , 11002 S. 48th St., Phoenix, AZ 85044.