Joan Marie Bigelow

Sept 27 Friday, both 10am visitation and 11am mass at St. Helen’s Church. Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Joan had a dynamic and extremely determined life force, living life to the fullest with always a positive outlook and never, ever a complaint. Finding pleasure in any activity, she was great fun and made lifelong friends easily, held dear by acquaintances and family all over the country.

Joan was born in Stillwater, Minnesota to Joseph (1969) & Lois (1994) (Voligny) McPhetres. Raised in Bayport, Minnesota, the family also lived in California during part of her father’s Navy service until they returned to Bayport. During Joan’s senior year at Stillwater High School, they moved to Dayton, Ohio where she graduated from Wilbur Wright High School in 1947. She enrolled in the Class of 1951 at St. Elizabeth Nursing School but joined the Navy shortly before graduating. Years later she returned to finish at St. Elizabeth’s and graduated with the Class of 1960.

While in the Navy, she met a Marine from Iowa, Norman (Randy) Ramsey (1973) who was recovering from a gunshot wound sustained during the Korean War. They married and had six children, Cynthia, Tim, Michael, Susan, Joseph (2019), and Ann (1975).

In 1980 she married Vernon Bigelow (1994), moved to Gowen, Michigan on Lincoln Lake and wintered in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, Florida.

As an RN, Joan was always a very strong patient advocate. Her nursing career was spent primarily with Dr. Robert Koors’ family practice and at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in the ER and Orthopedics. She was proud to have introduced her sister Jean to her future husband, another St. E. graduate, Tom Long. Joan was a nurse for the Dayton Gems hockey team and Sugarcreek Ski Hills. She volunteered for several Red Cross activities, particularly the Dayton Horse Shows and was frequently the neighborhood’s ‘first aid’ nurse. She later retired from Dayton State Geriatrics where she had initiated taking her patients on outings.

She had been a member of the Kitty Hawk Ski Club and reveled in their many ski trips, bicycle rides, and golf outings.

Joan had great times canoeing on the Little Miami River, camping and hiking in the U.P., the Smokies, and SE OH (minus chilly, soaking tents) which sometimes even included the family cat, Petoskey, and dogs-Teddy and Irish setter, Toby. Joan had a pleasant strong voice and enjoyed leading songs around campfires, or McNamara’s Band particularly on St. Patrick’s Day. She loved winter sports and enjoyed introducing comparatively sheltered Ohioans to her Minnesota heritage of ice skating, jumping over barrels, crack the whip, downhill & cross-country skiing, sledding, and tobogganing. In Dayton, neighborhood kids were welcome to join activities and games from the pool on Penn, swimming and sledding at DP&L, ice skating at the parks, to piling in last minute, squeezing into the old blue station on the way to the drive-in on County Line.

Often referred to as “Calamity Joan”, she was an avid outdoor sports woman, knowing no fear or caution. She was choppered off mountain ski trails, survived bicycle wrecks, horseback riding injuries and Portuguese man of war stings. Depending on the latest injury or during inclement weather, she enjoyed watching college football, pro ball, and golf. Joan also sewed beautiful, creative quilts and wall hangings, knitted and was a voracious reader.

An early (and noisy) dawn riser, she never hesitated to initiate or join any activity with zest and delight. More cautious friends and family were often surprised to find themselves convinced to join in her many and varied adventures, not quite sure how it came about. When on the sailboat or catamaran, Lincoln Lake binoculars and telescopes were manned from decks on standby for rescue – as friends were sometimes becalmed or capsized. She was an avid fresh and saltwater fisherwoman, often catching the most, only, or biggest fish (wise to wear a hat, glasses, and duck). It was no great surprise to run out of gas on Lincoln Lake when the fish were hitting or trying just one more spot; or needing to jump in to push off a sand bar in Sarasota Bay trying to reach a potentially lucky fishing hole. Protecting turtle nests, gathering bait by digging crabs, ‘sand fleas’, tubeworms, and cast netting to hunting nightcrawlers in Michigan were adventures to uninitiated friends and family. With family and dear Lincoln Lake neighbors, the Bykerks, Staats, and DeJonges, Joan spent many lovely days golfing, (golf carts required quick reflexes) and being on the water. She enjoyed water skiing, tubing, and miles of paddle boating and canoeing explorations with many scrumptious pontoon picnics, floating, fishing and snorkeling in crystal clear Blue Lake, Lincoln or the more secluded smaller lakes with the inevitable trips for ice cream cones. Having grown up near the St. Croix River, Joan was a very strong swimmer, often diving without hesitation into even frigid water, trying to save sinking rods, hats, glasses, anchors, snagged favorite lures, etc. or afterwards, the many challenging search and find snorkeling missions. There were many late evenings playing cards or games with family and neighbors of all ages and often late-night jigsaw puzzle sessions at the Bykerks. When in Bradenton Beach, Joan and her friend Bernietta loaded bicycle baskets with goodies, gathering the neighborhood gang and heading to the pier or beach, often watching for the magical green flash at sunset, sharing fun times at the Moose or activities at the nearby trailer court party room. She liked visiting the Mote Marine Science Lab and biking through Myakka State Park or over Longboat Pass. With both homes facing west, Joan relished the spectacular sunsets, extraordinary bright shooting stars, brilliant moons and the dramatic storms rolling in from the Gulf or Lake Michigan.

Wherever she lived, she was enthusiastically ready to explore or learn anything new, whether attending a variety of classes from arts to ceramics, to quilting, to scuba and Coast Guard seminars. She even herded cattle for an elderly rancher while visiting out west soon after Mt. St. Helen erupted. Joan enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and family, often playing golf across the country (many mulligans and creative scoring). She liked ocean and Mississippi River cruises, winning at bingo and the slot machines at the casinos. She delighted in attending the family’s many ball games, swim meets, and recitals, and accompanying her sister to Cincinnati Reds games in between their ice cream and golf games.

After returning to Dayton, Joan was an active participant in the many indoor and outdoor activities and trips offered by the Kettering Rec Senior Center and had wonderful times with the many good friends she met there. She had many laughs with Helen as they tried to teach us skills to play bocce at the Italian fest. She was always grateful to be taken out to eat by her neighbor, Tim, and often to Elsa’s and KD Barbecue by her sister and brother-in-law. Joan enjoyed the company of her neighbors, Tom and Gretchen, and her friend Jeanie’s visits to play Scrabble.

Aunt Joanie cherished her numerous special times at the ‘farm’ where she spent hours being spoiled, hugged, entertained, and ‘decorated’ by her young, devoted great-great nieces. She had wonderful times careening in the 4-wheeler visiting chickens, bees to bluebirds, hugging horses and baby goats, cats, and dogs. She kept busy with the various arts and crafts projects in between swimming, playing cards, dice or board games, most particularly her very favorite, the wild backgammon games with Kathy, Ron, and Susan. She savored the good food, (mostly the baked beans and desserts), delighting in the decorations and multiple celebrations, especially sharing the same birthday with her sister, the annual Derby Day, and Ron’s talented Halloween stories with spooky scavenger hunts and the giant, scary creatures in the woods. She relished Dallas’ frequent suppers, as he always made her favorites including her special chocolate desserts and ice cream and followed by Sorry and her other favorite games. She was delighted to be taken to her favorite quilt shows and unique festivals, garden tours, art exhibits, museums, musicals, antique car shows, bike rides, golf, and walks through the woods. Joan never lost her love of sitting in the sun, and all her life would happily travel miles by bike, boat, or car for good ice cream.

She held dear the out-of-town visits from special ‘daughter’, Barbara (Schlein) Martin and her husband, Paul. Visits from her young great-great nieces and great-grandchildren always brought many smiles. Pat’s kindness by bringing Communion meant a lot. The company of friends and family was greatly significant to Joan and even more so in later years.

Following Joan’s death was her brother-in-law’s, Thomas Long (9/17/24).

Recently preceding her in death was her brother, William McPhetres (2023); great-nephew, Bailey Rommelfanger (2023); nephew Gary Long (2021); and son, Joseph Ramsey (2019).

She was also preceded in death by her mother, Lois (Voligny) McPhetres (1994); husband, Vernon Bigelow (1994); daughter, Ann Ramsey (1975); husband, Norman (Randy) Ramsey (1973); father, Joseph McPhetres (1969); and brother-in-law, Robert Scanlan (1968).

Joan is survived by:

Children: Cynthia (Dallas Love); Timothy (Cheryl Chapman); Michael (Susan Smallwood); Susan Kraft (Terry Zimmerman).

Sister, Jean Long; Sister-in-law, Betty McPhetres; Cousins, Michael Voligny and Patrick (Jeanie) Voligny.

Grandchildren: Ramsey- Anthony (Shana), Timothy, Steven, Mathew (Heather), Heather; Kraft- Robert (Emily), Kevin (Amanda), Sara (Tyler Topp).

Great-grandchildren: Josie, Dellah, Sloane, Tucker, Aspen, Atlas, Blake, A.J., Makenna, Mason, Cameron.

Nieces and nephews: McPhetres- Jim, Tom, Jennifer; Long- Kathy, Rob, Mary (Cliff Caldwell), Suzanne (Mark Rommelfanger),

Jennie (Pete Eide), Gary (2021).

Great nieces and nephews: Long- Samantha (Pete Shumaker), Allie (Tommie Verschueren), Meaghan; Eide- Jacob, Nathan;

McPhetres- Sean, Billy, Maddie; Rommelfanger- Kaitlin (Andy Ramirez), Bailey (2023), Nicholas; Caldwell- Daniel, Jeffrey.

Great-great nieces and nephew: Emma, Evie, Brynlee, Bentley.

Special family friends: The Martin Family; Lyn Schlein; Ron Warwar; Paul Kraft and Julia Lucente

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to:

St. Elizabeth Nurses Alumni or their Scholarship Fund

Or The Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association

8448 N Dixie Dr., Dayton Ohio 45414

www.mvdsa.org/give