Joanne Marie Stalzer Ward

Joanne Marie Stalzer Ward, age 80 of Valdosta, Georgia, passed away on June 18, 2023. She was born on October 22, 1942, in Norwalk, Ohio to the late Charles L. Stalzer and Angela Steffan Stalzer. Before moving to Georgia to be closer to her daughters and their families, Joanne spent 40 years in California. Following her retirement after 25 years employed as a systems analyst, she served in roles as a member of City Council, Vice Mayor, and Mayor over a 12-year period for the City of Hercules, CA. One of her greatest joys was being part of the Friends of Hercules Library group to help bring a public library to Hercules. Joanne enjoyed baking her “specialty pies” for friends and family and was passionate about traveling, visiting destinations all over the world on every continent, including Antarctica. Joanne was a longtime fan and supporter of Oakland Raiders Football, Oakland A’s Baseball and Golden State Warriors teams and was a member of the Oakland A’s Volunteer Team for 20 years. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her nephew TJ Stalzer. Joanne is survived by her daughter, Julie Landis (Roger) Horton of Lake Park, Georgia; daughter, Charlene Landis (Ralph) Johnson of Corbin Kentucky; grandchildren: Major, Savannah, Connor and Drew Horton; Victoria and Isabella Johnson; brother Theodore J. (Sallie) Stalzer, niece Jennifer Stalzer Kraske and grandnieces and nephew Tejal, Trinity, Declan and Isla and Rebeca Blustein Perales, Costa Rica, her exchange student daughter.
A visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at Music Funeral Services, Valdosta. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 26, 2023 at Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, Ohio. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM on Monday, June 26, 2023 at Paul R. Young Funeral Home in Oxford, Ohio. Kind words and expressions of sympathy can be left for the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com . Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Hercules Library, 109 Civic Drive, Hercules, CA 94547 or Theatre Guild Valdosta, PO Box 123, Valdosta, GA 31603. The compassionate and caring staff of Music Funeral Services, Valdosta serving the Ward family.