Joan Gehle

On Thursday, April 21, 2016, Joan Mylander Gehle died peacefully in her sleep. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Henry G. Gehle; her children Gilbert H. Gehle (Roxane) of Wazata, MN, David B. Gehle (Janice) of Anderson, SC, and Dianna Gehle Hill (David) of Naperville, IL; her 9 grandchildren: Kevin, Jonathan, Lane (Joelle), Jackson, Bryce, Daniel, Anna, Hope, and Wren; her brother Richard Mylander (Suzie) of Glen Ellyn, IL, and her sister Annette Martin of Lawrence, IN. Joan was born in Toledo, Ohio on June 1, 1929 to Luther and Anna Mylander. She grew up on their farm near the small rural town of Oak Harbor, Ohio. She was the oldest of 3 children. She played piano and cello, and was active in 4H, her church, and many activities at Oak Harbor High School, where she graduated in 1947. She continued her education in home economics at Ohio State University where she graduated with honors in 1951. While at OSU, she was Vice President of the YWCA, Social Board Treasurer, the Fraternity Manager’s Association, Mortar Board, Home Ec. Club, Phi Upsilon Omicron, Mirrors, Chimes and the Alpha Phi Sorority. She also played piano for the glee club. She met Henry (Hank) in Ohio after graduation. They married April 18, 1953 in Oak Harbor then settled in Cuyahoga Falls to start their life together. In 1955, Hank and Joan moved to Leopoldville, The Belgian Congo in central Africa. In Africa Joan was very busy in women’s groups, taught sewing and home economics through a missionary group she was involved with, and played bridge. Hank and Joan enjoyed the birth of their sons Gilbert Henry in 1956 and David Bower in 1957 while in Africa. They returned to the US in 1958 to Elyria Ohio where their daughter, Dianna, was born in 1959. They moved the family to Denver in 1960 settling in the Centennial Acres neighborhood in the southwest part of the city. Joan started teaching gourmet cooking at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, where she continued for 25 years, building a program that was well known as “Where to go for gourmet cooking schools in the Rocky Mountain West”. She was an officer with the teacher’s union and sat on the negotiating committee. Joan won several awards, including Vocational Educator of the Year more than once. Always a lifelong believer in expanding her own education, she received her Master’s Degree in Education from Colorado State University in 1976. She also became an administrator overseeing Health and Family and Consumer Sciences and served as the Marketing Education Coordinator at Emily Griffith Opportunity School. Joan had many hobbies including sewing, crafts, gardening, entertaining, playing bridge, and golf. She was an active member in the Alpha Phi National Sorority and continued to be part of a ladies Gourmet Group. She and Hank were avid travelers and went on more than 20 cruises and river trips. They enjoyed traveling using Elderhostels throughout the U.S. Her love of baking and cooking has passed on through the generations, especially making fresh cinnamon rolls. The last three years, Joan and Hank enjoyed living at Holly Creek Christian Living Community in Centennial, Colorado She was a loving wife, mother and friend. She will be missed. May her soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon her. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to: The Denver Teacher’s Club Assistance Fund 1617 S. Acoma St., Denver, CO 80223 Christian Living Communities 7000 E. Belleview Ave. Suite 150, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 The American Heart Association 10900-B Stonelake Blvd., Suite 320 Austin, TX 78759