Mary Joan Ascher

Mary "Joan" Ascher (nee Ford), age 82 of Richfield. Survived by husband, Gerald "Jerry"; children, Kathleen "Katy" (Doug) Eiden, Mary (Scott) Carollo, Thomas (Maria) Ascher, Anne (K.C.) Monahan, and Beth (Chris McGill) Ascher; 18 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; brothers, Bernard (Joyce) Ford, and Joseph (Mary Ann) Ford. Preceded in death by infant daughter, Aimee; parents, Joseph and Constance Ford, and brother, Richard Ford.

Joan was born on the Ford family farm outside of Grafton, Iowa. She attended a one room school house and Plymouth High School from which she graduated at age 17. After earning an associate's degree from Clark College in Dubuque, she taught elementary school in Floyd, Iowa for two years. She then earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota, where she also met Jerry at the Newman Center, playing bridge. Joan and Jerry were married August 9, 1958, and together they raised five children and among other things, continued to combine forces at the bridge table. Joan taught kindergarten, first and second grades for more than 35 years, touching and shaping the lives of generations of young students. Dozens of former students claimed her as their favorite teacher. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who attended countless ball games, dance and music recitals, plays, graduations, birthday parties and sacraments. She instilled in all her children a sense of faith and responsibility to help those less fortunate.