Joanne Sadewasser, 83

Joanne Mae Brown Sadewasser, 83, of Indian Head, MD and formerly of Centreville, MI, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 16 at the Civista Medical Center in LaPlata, MD.Born July 3, 1927, in the family home in Centreville, delivered by her Grandmother Brown, she was the daughter of John “Jake” Brown and Lenore Marion Schrader Brown.

Mrs. Sadewasser graduated from Centreville High School, and from the Elkhart Medical Secretary School in Elkhart, IN.  She spent her working years as the Secretary to the Centreville School System.  She was heavily involved in the mission of the system and the support of the Administration, Staff and Students within.  To acknowledge her commitment and to show their appreciation of her efforts, the school’s students dedicated the 1959 Centrillian to her. Upon retirement from that position she still had a desire to contribute to her community and was elected and served as a County Commissioner for St. Joseph County. She loved politics, hosted many tea parties in her home for political candidates, worked the polls, served on the Election Board and followed passionately the political coverage of each new election.  She was the family sage, always studying issues thoroughly before giving her “read” on the world’s issues.  She loved to read biographies, embroider and be kept up to date on the latest family, friend and neighborhood news.  She was a long time member of the Centreville/Three Rivers Presbyterian Church.  She cooked many a “Fireman’s Dinner” for the volunteers at the Centreville Fire Department and volunteered for many worthy causes herself.  She enjoyed traveling with her late husband, George, especially to Florida to follow the sun away from Michigan’s cold winters.  Following the death of her husband and mother, she moved to Maryland in 1996 to be near her daughter and family.

Above all, however, Mrs. Sadewasser loved her family.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, George and loving son, Steven Sadewasser. Grandma Joanne is survived by her daughter, Dianne McWilliams and son-in-law, John McWilliams of Indian Head, MD; daughter-in-law Judi Sadewasser of Lansing, MI; sister, Mary Lou Wills of LaPlata, MD; sister-in laws Kathy Sadewasser of Centreville, MI, and Helen Jean Avery of Colon, MI; grandchildren John Carroll McWilliams, Megan Pierce, and husband Henry Pierce, of Port Tobacco, MD; Erin Joanne Klaas and husband Brian Klaas of Nanjemoy, MD; Shannon Oliver and husband Daniel Oliver of LaPlata, MD; Amy Halfmann and husband Jeremy Halfmann of Lansing, MI; Hannah Sadewasser and husband Eric Starin of Grand Ledge, MI; honorary grandchildren Hamid Ahmady and wife Lori Ahmady of Mt. Vernon, VA and Megan Good, Kelly White and Tracie Brakke of Indian Head, MD; great grandchildren Reagan Dianne McWilliams of LaPlata, MD; Liam McWilliams Pierce and Sophia Dianne Pierce of Port Tobacco, MD; Grady Jameson Klaas, Grace Dianne Klaas and Gavin Gregory Klaas of Nanjemoy, MD; Lily Dianne Oliver of LaPlata, MD; Aiden Steven-Keith Halfmann, Saige Linda-Jude Halfmann, and Keaton Connor-Benjamin Halfmann of Lansing, MI; Arian Allen Starin, Saida Jude Starin, Mayla Belle Starin and Annala Dow Starin of Grand Ledge, MI, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors who loved her as their Aunt/Grandma Joanne.

Mrs. Sadewasser’s family will take her home to Centreville for burial next to her beloved husband, George, and in sight of her loving son and parent’s graves in April.  A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 16 at the Prairie River Cemetery. Reverend Brenda Deily, First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Mintdale Women’s Club or the Three Rivers Presbyterian Church. On-line messages may be left for the family at www.eleyfuneralhomes.com.