Joan “Joanne” Arlene Wilson Gerwitz

June 13, 1933 – November 7, 2026

Joan “Joanne” Arlene Wilson Gerwitz, age 93, went to be with the Lord Saturday, November 7, 2026 at her home in Great Valley, NY.

Born June 13, 1933, in Great Valley, NY, she was the daughter of the late Harvey and Dorothy Aumock Wilson.

Following her school years in Great Valley, she was employed first at Electrical Reactance in Franklinville for over three years.

On August 24,1957, she married Lloyd Neal Gerwitz, whom she met (thanks to her future sister-in-law, Dorothy Gerwitz) when they all were working at Burrell Cutlery in Ellicottville, NY, where she continued to be employed until Christmastime 1957. Shortly after she and Lloyd were married, they purchased the one-room schoolhouse that Joanne had attended in her youth. With much hard work, they made that former schoolhouse into a beautiful home which they have enjoyed for almost all of their 69 years together.

Joanne was the most beautiful example of the Bible’s Proverbs 31 woman who is described in that chapter. Proverbs 31:10 (KJV) says “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Verses 28 and 30 say, “Her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her… a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” We her family can tell you all that those words were so true of her. Joanne did not like any attention drawn to herself. She was kind and loving and always ready to help her husband and family successfully complete any church activity or other project that they were involved in.

Lloyd and Joanne were well known for their huge gardens each year. Joanne spent long hours harvesting, freezing, and canning all their produce. There was no need to buy vegetables from a grocery store!

Surviving besides her husband Lloyd are: her daughter, Kimberly (Roxsyn) Burrell, Franklinville, NY; seven grandchildren, Amber (Jim) Klehn, Armand Burrell, Autumn (Shane) Goodman, Aubrey (Christopher) Flagg, Avin (Brandy) Burrell, Austin Burrell, and Aldyn Burrell; ten great-grandchildren, David and Mike Klehn, Alexa and Sidney Burrell, Noelle Goodman, Micaiah, Zain, Asa, Josiah, and Serriah Flagg; two special boys, who quickly became like sons, Arthur (Debra) Atwater and Jeffrey (Darlene) Atwater and their families, and the most wonderful, thoughtful, and caring nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends a person could be blessed to have.

In addition to her parents, Joanne was predeceased by a daughter, Nadine Faye Gerwitz on March 16, 2020, her granddaughter-in-law, Chelsey Burrell on June 6, 2020, and her two sisters, Virgina Jaques and Betty Wiley.

Friends may call at the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY on Friday, November 13, 2026 from 4 – 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at the Humphrey Baptist Church, 4444 Humphrey Road, Great Valley, NY on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Burial will be in Crawford Cemetery.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Great Valley Community Church, where Joanne was honored to be the oldest surviving member.

E-condolences may be sent to orourke.orourkefh@gmail.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh