Joan Hill Gonder

Joan Hill Gonder passed away peacefully on September 22, 2024. She was born in Akron, on January 30, 1930, to the late John & Marguerite Keagy.

She attended Betty Jane Elementary School and graduated from East High School, Class of January 1948. She attended Kent State University and was in the A Capella Choir there. She left college to pursue her singing career. She sang on many radio stations such as: WWST, WHKK, WADC and WAKR with Radio Hall of Fame greats such as: Eddy Wayne, Cliff Rodgers, Happy Hank Pawlak and George Morgan. 

She later joined the Sweet Adelines and sang in the Akron Chapter, The Village Belles Chorus and The Star Fires Quartet, where they achieved the Semi-Finalists Award in the Sweet Adelines International Quartet Contest!

Mom had a great love of music! She played the piano by ear, never using sheet music, in several small bands with her husband Don Gonder. She occasionally played the piano and/or organ at church. She sang in the church choirs at Meade Avenue Church as well as in The Chapel Choir. She has always taught her children and grandchildren to love music, and of course, how to play Yahtzee! 

In her “spare time” she was employed by Akron City Hospital in the Admitting Department. 

Joan leaves behind her children: Larry (Melissa) Hill and Jeanine (Mike) Harvey, Grandchildren: John (Ann) Hill, Steven (Caroline Moakley) Hill, Kevin Hill and Jessica (James) Galloway, Great-Grandchildren: Vivian, Heidi and Kurt Hill.

She is preceded in death by her husbands, Duane Hill and Donald Gonder, sister Mary Ellen Overholt and brother Jack Keagy. She is survived by her sister Amy Wolfe. 

Family and friends are invited to visit at New Horizons Christian Church, 290 Darrow Rd. Akron, OH 44305 on Tuesday, October 1 from 10:30 a.m. until the service that begins at 12:30 p.m. with Pastor Jim Bane officiating. Interment to follow the service at Hillside Memorial Park, where Joan will be laid to rest. To leave a special message for Joan's family, please visit the guest book below.