Joan Brautigam

Joan Brautigam, age 95, of Meadville, died on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at Wesbury United Methodist Community in Meadville.

She was born on September 9, 1925, in Toronto, Ontario, to James and Alva Lewis McClelland.  Joan was predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Robert, in 2005.  In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her elder sister, Margaret Maynard, and her younger sisters, Lois Batten and Mary Louise Ronan.  Her younger brother, James McClelland (Jean), of Kingston, Ontario, survives.

Joan was an athlete and served as Games Captain at her high school, Bishop Strachan School in Toronto.  After receiving a degree in physical education from the University of Toronto, she taught school at Stamford Collegiate in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where she coached a champion basketball team.  She met her husband in a tennis league in Niagara Falls, and they were married in 1953.  They had 3 children, Robert Brautigam (Tassie) of St. Charles, Illinois, John Brautigam (Diana) of Meadville, and Jane Anderson (David) of Meadville.  They survive.  Joan was a loving grandmother to Sarah Youngkin (David), Gillian Brautigam, Claire Brautigam, Martin Anderson (Rachel) and Emily Anderson; great grandmother to Everitt Youngkin and Lillian Youngkin; and aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.

Joan was always thinking of others and lived her Christian faith through various jobs and volunteer activities.  An active church member, she served as Christian Education Director, member of Session and ran the Kenmore [New York] Presbyterian Church shelter for the homeless program.  She was also Director of Volunteers for the Red Cross of Buffalo and put in countless volunteer hours on other causes such as local board of education elections.  A true animal lover, Joan always had at least one dog in the house and was a docent at the Buffalo Zoo, where she became qualified to drive the Zoomobile and take various critters to area schools, including large snakes, which didn’t faze her in the least.

Joan’s family extends its heartfelt thanks to the staff of Wesbury for their courage and kindness during this trying time.

A memorial service will be planned for a future date.  Memorial donations may be made to Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 21601 Stull Rd., Saegertown, PA 16433, your church’s mission program or the charity of your choice.

The arrangements have been entrusted to the ROBERT W. WAID FUNERAL HOME, 581 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE where memories and condolences may be shared at www.waidfuneralhome.net.