Beryl Elaine Proeschel

She is preceded in death by her father Richard Earl Nichols and mother Helen Elaine Nichols (McGee).

Beryl was born in Ohio to her parents on February 24, 1945. Upon graduating Fairfield High School, her family sent her off to college to get a medical degree. However, during her first year at Otterbein University she found herself enjoying working with her roommate’s teacher education project. Beryl switched to Miami University (Oxford, OH) and received her teaching degree in three years. From then on – teaching was her life – teaching in elementary schools wherever her husband’s job took them. Beryl was a “teachers teacher.” She was the lead teacher in many of the schools – mentoring those new to the teaching profession.

Beryl’s gift was to quickly see why a student was having difficulty in accomplishing classwork – many times it being external to the classroom. Besides providing workshops to help parents/caregivers to assist their students with homework, she would talk/visit with the person(s), care for the student if needed, and at times supply students with food/clothes – all without the knowledge of their peers. The schools she touched with her kind and nurturing nature include Greenhills Elementary School (Greenhills, OH), Fairfield West Elementary School (Fairfield, OH), DODEA Europe School (Naples, Italy), Texarkana Elementary School (Texarkana, AR), Kay Nelson Children’s World (St. Charles, IL), Emmanuel Lutheran Preschool (Vienna, VA), Islamic Saudi Academy (Alexandria, VA) and George Watkins Elementary School (Quinton, VA).

Beryl loved her family. When asked how much – she would shout “to the moon and back.” She was the friend maker of the husband-and-wife duo. Beryl made lifelong friends ranging from Fairfield High School; Otterbein University; Naples, Italy; Texarkana, Arkansas; Lakewood, New Jersey; Aurora, Illinois; Oakton, Virgina; Paris, France to Williamsburg, Virginia. Although they may have been separated by distance and time – it was like no time had passed when they got together again. Beryl was the spark plug of her family – memories of her love for them will keep them going.

Beryl is survived by her husband, Thomas Proeschel; her daughters, Lori Dunn (Steven) and Heather Andresen (Derek); and her grandchildren, Norah Dunn, Hannah Dunn, Mia Andresen, and Ian Andresen.

The family will have a Celebration of Beryl’s Life in late September/early October 2024 – exact date and location to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Beryl’s name to the Alliance for Aging Research (https://www.agingresearch.org/).