Joan Helene Spevak

January 21, 1930 - January 4, 2014

Joan Helene (Koch) Spevak, 83, died surrounded by her loving family at Hospice of Northwest Ohio on January 4, 2014. She was born January 21, 1930 to Charles T. and Edna Bartelt Koch in Toledo, Ohio. A 1947 graduate of Edward Drummond Libbey High School in Toledo, she studied Education at the University of Toledo. Joan married Wilfred Spevak in 1949, starting a marital adventure which continued for 57 years. Joan was a dedicated full time mother and cherished participating in her childrens' endeavors including Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, parent teacher organizations, mothers clubs, Sunday School, chauffeur, and countless other activities. A lifelong devout member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Joan attended Trinity Lutheran School from 1934 until 1943, and was active at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church until moving to West Toledo in 1955. She was a member of Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church for 50 years, active in Choir, the Women's League, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Altar Guild, usher, numerous support services, and instrumental in the creation of Holy Cross Elementary School. Her most recent affiliation was with Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Joan's greatest legacy to the families of northwest Ohio was the foundation of one of the first child day care programs in the Toledo area. Many thousands of children and families have known first hand her trustworthy and loving nature, generosity of spirit, and commitment to integrity. Joan and Wilfred founded Holy Cross Day Care in 1974 and the program continues to this day (now named Love ‘n Learn Educational Child Care). She worked tirelessly to ensure that the needs of children and parents were met each and every day. Joan continued to provide support to the children and families for forty years, instilling a sense of confidence and trust in working parents. Joan started Holy Cross Day Care in the basement of the church, using Army cots for naptime and peanut butter and jelly for the first lunch. The program grew from a first day enrollment of four children to over 100 children in the first year, largely due to Joan's tireless dedication to and love for the children and families in her care Joan is survived by her daughter, Connie Spevak (Dan Bach); son, Clint Spevak; grandchildren, Catherine and Clayton Spevak; brother, Charles F. Koch (Margaret); nieces, Sandy Seelman (Vic), Bonnie Bartlett, Karen Koch Exton (Thomas), Lynne Spevak Menke (Andrew), and Teri Spevak; nephews, Gene Campbell (Debby), Bill Campbell, Michael Koch, Allen Bartlett (Sue), and Guy Spevak. She was preceded in death by her Husband of 57 years, Wilfred Spevak; sisters, Barbara Bartlett Bohnert, Pamela Campbell and Imogene Koch. Friends are invited to visit Friday, January 10, 2014 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm at Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, Toledo. Services will be held at 1:30 pm Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Ansberg-West. Interment in Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Online condolences may be left for Joan's family at www.ansberg-west.com