Joan Harvey Rohan

Joan Harvey Rohan was an active and intelligent woman whose education and pursuits made her a woman ahead of her time. Curious and determined, single-minded and inventive, Joan’s life was an adventure she shared with family and a large network of colleagues and friends. She was kind, strong-willed and passionate about her beliefs. As such, Joan had an enormous capacity for good that profited her community and earned her the respect of others.

Joan’s story began at a time when women trumpeted the right to vote, the control of alcohol and need for fair labor laws affecting children. During World War I, women were called to action at home when men answered the call to arms. Women’s clothing was being made more comfortable and people of all ages could enjoy the music of ragtime, jazz and blues. The age of women’s emerging independence recognized one of its own when Joan was born to Richard and Wilhelmina (Rickeman) Harvey on June 17, 1916 in Racine, Wisconsin.

Joan attended Winslow Elementary School, and already in kindergarten, she met her future husband Bill Rohan. She graduated from Washington Park High School, “Class of 1933,” and went on to Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. After graduating in 1935, Joan returned to Racine to care for her father and brother, following her mother’s death.

It soon became apparent that Joan had many interests she wished to pursue. While living at home, she rode the Interurban to Layton School of Art in Milwaukee. After taking some classes, she determined that she would never earn a living as an artist and made a move to Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she graduated in 1938 with a degree in History of Art. In addition to her academic studies, Joan took flight training and earned her pilot’s license. Her sense of adventure continued in her choice of career.

Joan taught History of Art and worked in the Gallery at Layton in Milwaukee. In 1941, she went to work in Rockford, Illinois for the NYA, training girls to do power sewing and work in machine shops. Later she accepted a job in advertising at WF & John Barnes, a machine tool manufacturing company in Rockford. Then, after reading a book on engineering drafting, Joan switched positions and went into the small tools’ department where she designed metal cutting implements. Such energy and abilities made Joan’s life rich with experiences that only continued when she became a wife and mother.

On March 20, 1945, Joan was united in marriage to her longtime sweetheart William J. Rohan. After their son George was born, Joan went to work for Family Service in Racine. Six years later, the family welcomed baby Marcia into their lives, and Joan continued to maintain her busy life. She worked for the Racine Public Library at the Mobile Library and then the Uptown branch. Pursuing her love of literature, Joan went back to school and earned a degree in Library Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She became a librarian for the Racine school district and worked at Knapp Elementary until her retirement.

Joan’s long and active life earned her many distinctions. She was the most senior member of Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church and, as a child, she had met the Reverend Olympia Brown, who was the first woman minister to be recognized by a denomination. Joan was an active member of AAUW, Preservation Racine and the RYC. As a passionate environmentalist and conservationist, she was a founding member of Hoy Audubon, The Kenosha/Racine Land Trust, and founding member and first president of the Chiwaukee Prairie Preservation Fund. She also was a Friend of Hawthorn Hollow, River Bend, the Kenosha Museum and the Racine Public Library. She was a birder, a gardener of flowers and vegetables (she made the best dill pickles), a traveler and a camper. Little wonder that Joan was honored by the YWCA with a Woman of Distinction Award.

Among her family, friends and an entire community, Joan will be dearly missed.

Joan Harvey Rohan, age 95 and lifelong resident of Racine, passed away Thursday, January 12, 2012 at Wheaton Franciscan All Saints Medical Center. Surviving is her son, George (Stephanie) Rohan of Heathsville, VA; her daughter, Marcia (Fred) Nicas of Long Beach, CA; sister-in-law, Josephine Rohan Longpre’ of Mound, MN; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and 2 brothers, Thomas G and Richard G Harvey Jr.

Joan’s family wishes to extend a special thank you to Marsha Nelson and all those who “kept her going,” and also to Wheaton Franciscan Hospice for their loving and compassionate care.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 21, 2012, 11:00 AM at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, 625 College Ave, with Reverend Dr. Tony Larson officiating. Relatives and friends may meet Friday at the funeral home 4-7 PM and Saturday at the church 10:00 AM until time of service at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Chiwaukee Prairie Preservation Fund, the Racine Public Library, AAUW or Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church have been suggested. Please send condolences to www.meredithfuneralhome.com

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME~803 MAIN ST. RACINE, WI 53403~(262)634-7888