Joan M. Passen

Joan Maxine Passen, age 90, of Canal Winchester, Ohio, surrounded by her loving family was called Home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, September 27, 2025, three days after she and her husband Tom celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Joan was a graduate of South High School in Columbus, class of 1953, and a long-time faithful member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for 20 years. In the 70s Joan formed a company called Script & Scroll where she hand addressed formal invitations for numerous notable personalities including Miss America in copperplate script calligraphy using quill ink pens. Additionally, she served as office manager for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for 20 years. She also loved baking and decorating countless birthday and graduation cakes, hosting family holiday gatherings, treating the family to November outings at Oglebay Park and attending hundreds of baseball games with her husband, mother and sister. Her enduring love for family and her unwavering faith guided her life and her memory and the love she gave will live on in all of us.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Forest and Anna Ball, sister, Donna J. Ball, sister-in-law, Charlotte Ball and brother-in-law, Alan King. She is survived by her middle school sweetheart and devoted husband of 70 years, Thomas Passen; sons and daughters-in-law, Craig and Cindy Passen and Perry and Joan Passen; grandchildren, Brooke Simmons (JJ), Chip Passen (Liesel), Casey Matthews (Clay), Brett Passen and Jessica Pipes (Chris); great-grandchildren, Jarrett Simmons, Kassie Simmons, Whitney Passen, Brody Passen, Emma Matthews, Kora Matthews, Adelynn Pipes and Harper Pipes; brother, Donald Ball; sister-in-law, Rosalie King; several nieces, nephews, and many dear friends from South High School.

Family will receive friends, Thursday, October 2, 2025, beginning at 10:30 a.m. until time of funeral service at 12:30 p.m. at GRAUMLICH FUNERAL HOME, 1351 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43207, with Pastor Edward A. Engelbrecht officiating. Interment to follow at Green Lawn Cemetery.

Please direct any donations/contributions to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 80 E. Markison Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43207. To sign Joan’s online guest book and leave a condolence for her family please visit www.graumlichfuneralhome.com