Joanne Gerst

Joanne Catherine Gerst (Kvach) passed away peacefully on December 27, 2025. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Joseph and Mary Kvach. Joanne was raised in a Bohemian family alongside her older sister, Noreen.

Joanne graduated from Siena Heights College with a degree in philosophy. Shortly after graduation, she married the love of her life, Tom Gerst. Their early years together took them to Alabama while Tom served in the Army, and where Joanne began her career as an elementary school teacher. After several years in the classroom, she chose to devote herself fully to raising their family, a role she embraced with warmth and unwavering support.

In the mid-1970s, Joanne and Tom settled in Akron, Ohio, where they built a life together and started their own recruiting business. Joanne ran the office for many years, supporting the business from the front desk while providing a steady, caring presence.

Joanne's greatest joy was her family. She was a wonderful mother, enthusiastically supporting everything her children pursued, from crazy neighborhood newspapers and plays to race car dreams. She was endlessly patient and joyful, known for her gentle spirit and for never having a harsh word to say about anyone.

As Nana, Joanne poured that same love into her grandchildren. She was a constant presence at ballet recitals and at baseball, lacrosse, football, and soccer games, as well as track and cross-country meets. Her grandchildren treasure memories of sleepovers at Nana and Papa's house, filled with games, laughter, and mornings that always began with her legendary chocolate chip pancakes, perfectly crisp around the edges. One of Nana's favorite pieces of advice was to always smile before answering the phone, because it sets the right tone, a small lesson that reflected how she lived her life.

Joanne was deeply committed to serving others. A devoted member of the Christ Child Society of Akron since the 1980s, she volunteered countless hours making crafts for the annual Christmas fundraiser, working in the clothing center, co-chairing the fundraiser, and later serving as President of the Akron chapter. Her service was a reflection of her generous heart and lifelong desire to help those in need.

In her quieter moments, Joanne enjoyed spending time with family, solving puzzles, completing the daily Wordle and sharing her results, gathering with friends to play cards, mahjong, or enjoy lunch together, and sharing her love through cooking, especially her beloved potatoes and chicken paprikash.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Noreen. She is survived by her beloved husband, Tom; her children, Kathy (Joe) and Mike (Nicole); her grandchildren, Sara, Shannon, Michael, Elise, and Ryan; and many nieces and nephews who will miss her deeply.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Cleveland Clinic Hospital and Hospice for their compassionate care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Monday, January 5th, 2026 at St. Sebastian Church. She will be laid to rest at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joanne's memory to the Christ Child Society of Akron.