Obituary of Joan Louise Carls

Joan Louise Carls Allegany, NY Joan Louise Carls, formerly of 1293 Chipmonk Rd., passed away Monday (July 24, 2023) at The Pines of Olean, at the age of 91. Born February 22, 1932 in Olean, she was the daughter of Earl and Nina Willover Ratzel. On June 3, 1950 at St. Bonaventure Church, she married Thomas A. Carls who predeceased her February 28, 2012. Joan was a graduate of Allegany Central School. She took great joy in being a loving wife to Tom, as well as raising her 8 children and being involved in the lives of her many grandchildren. She had been a longtime member of the former St. John the Baptist Church in Vandalia and was more recently a member of St. Bonaventure Church. She was a former member of Catholic Daughters of America. Joan enjoyed reading and loved to sew and knit for her kids and grandchildren. All of her married life she and her husband showed a committed and loving bond to one another. They traveled to many destinations to camp with family and also enjoyed their Alaskan cruise. They enjoyed motorcycle trips with friends to such places as Nova Scotia, Nashville, TN, and Bronson, MO. Holidays were an important time of year for her, especially having family together for Christmas. She leaves behind her 8 children, Thomas (Mary) Carls of Cuba, Kay (Bill) Miller, Steven (Sharon) Carls, Kevin (Sheryl) Carls, Patricia (Stephan) Bailey, all of Allegany, Jeffrey (Svetlana) Carls of Elk Horn, WI, Mark (Kathy) Carls of Panama City Beach, FL, and Ed (Amy) Carls of Angelica; nineteen grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; 1 great-great granddaughter, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by 3 brothers Charles Ratzel, Richard Ratzel, and Robert Ratzel, and 2 sisters Eleanor Dutton and Margaret Shetterly. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-4 & 7-8:30pm at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean. A prayer service will be held Friday (July 28, 2023) at 9:30am in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Bonaventure Church. Rev. Michael Reyes, OFM, pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Allegany American Legion Post 892, 4350 Rt. 417, Allegany, NY 14706, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.