Joanne Fulton Lauer departed this life on September 5, 2020 to join her family in the great beyond. Born November 8, 1933, she was the eleventh child of Bertha and Lewis Fulton. Her parents and siblings preceded her in death: Brothers Robert, Clark, Forrest, Paul and Kenneth, and sisters Merna Riley, Mildred Donnelly, Leila Fulton, Kathryn McMains, and Lois Parks.

Marietta, Ohio was Joanne's home town. She graduated from Marietta High School and worked as secretary to B.H. Putnam. 

On March 7, 1953, Joanne married her loving and beloved husband, Josef Lauer. The couple were married for 67 years. They moved to Cleveland, where Josef attended Case Institute of Technology. Joanne worked at GE during their Cleveland years. She was a member and president of the Case Engineers' Wives  Club.

Then to Massillon, Ohio where their four children were born. Happily she is survived by: Lisa Lauer and husband Patrick Ellis of Gualala, California; Kurt Lauer and wife Marcia of Montclair, Virginia; Grant Lauer and wife Dr. Carrie van de Stadt of Bristol, Connecticut; and Valerie Lauer of Cincinnati. 

A lifelong artist, Joanne worked in oils, watercolors and mixed media. Her art career took off in earnest when the family moved from New York to Virginia, where she exhibited and sold her work at numerous art shows and was represented by the Pheasant’s Eye Gallery. Joanne served as president of the Lynchburg Art Club and chairman of the Lynchburg Art Festival, and was a member of the Virginia Watercolor Society. She was also a member of the Lynchburg Chapter of American Pen Women, The Poetry Society of Virginia, the Virginia Watercolor Society, and Writers' Bloc. 

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In 2006, Joe and Joanne moved to Cincinnati to be closer to their youngest grandchildren, Max and Margo Wilson. Other treasured grandchildren carrying on are: Ben Lauer of Washington, D.C; Christine Wozniak of Menlo Park, California; Nicole Lauer of Beacon Falls, Connecticut, Erica Lauer of Bristol, Connecticut and step-grandchildren Michael, Will, and Anna Kalkanis-Ellis of Berkeley, California. Also surviving are a large contingent of nieces and nephews.

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Joanne succumbed after a two-year struggle with lung cancer. A celebration of her life will be held when the family can convene. Memorial donations may be made to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund.