Joan L. Midlik, aged 92 years, passed away on Friday February 27, 2026, at the Warren Manor after an extended illness.

She was born Joan Mary Luther in Patton, PA, on August 12, 1933, the daughter of the late Urban Francis and Helen C. (Miller) Luther. Joan was a longtime resident of Westlake, OH, before moving to the Warren, PA, area in 1983. She graduated from Carrolltown High School in 1951 and moved to Cleveland, OH where she was quickly employed by Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western University) for 5 years and General Electric for 10 years, leaving to be a full-time mother. She spoke well of her years with both companies which brought much joy in her young adulthood and sparked a lifelong interest in communications.

On November 26, 1960, she married Daniel T. Midlik in St. Philomena Church in East Cleveland, OH, the product of a successful blind date organized by a family member. He was handsome, athletic, and a businessman, and although she was independent, she was smitten. They ultimately spent 58 loving years together, building first a home, then a family, then a blueberry farm, before he passed on July 4, 2018.

Joan was a former member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church of Westlake, Ohio, and a current member of Holy Redeemer RC Church in Warren where she joyfully sang with the church choir for far longer than she felt she could helpfully carry a tune. Joan was a lifelong volunteer, from being President of the Twins’ Club and Cub Scout Den Mother in Westlake, to tackling multitudes of church needs, to the Warren Pregnancy Center where she was a fierce lifelong proponent of the Pro-Life movement. Joan practiced what she preached.

Music was a central focus of Joan’s existence, and she did her utmost to ensure her children were given musical opportunities. In her eyes, music equated to love, and she was joyfully surrounded by both. Luther family gatherings commonly ended with her many brothers breaking out their guitars, accompanied by the many sisters singing in perfect harmony to cherished old country tunes. These gatherings quickly became a family favorite of her own children beginning from a young age, teaching them timeless harmony, rhythm, and the simple but revelatory joys of music.

Joan had a daily sense of purpose and a lifelong dogged determination to make the most of each day. Her high school majorette baton was a source of joy, and at any age when requested, she would gleefully perform, marching in place and expertly maneuvering the baton, hand on hip and smile on face. She learned to ice skate and taught her young children to skate, which led to an annual flooding and freezing of their large Ohio back yard which quickly became a neighborhood skating-rink magnet and source of joy for the Midlik kids and their dear friends. In her beloved Cherry Grove home, Joan enjoyed seasonal walks (autumn was her favorite) or cross-country skiing out her back door. She was a loquacious talker, a stellar listener, an avid reader, a consummate hostess and expert in the kitchen (she would laugh at this statement), and she savored making meals for family and guests regardless of numbers or unplanned drop-ins. She was quick to adopt to ever-evolving communication modes and was a regular texter and FaceTime user until the time of her passing.

Her family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks for Joan’s unceasing love, her daily prayers (her deepest expression of love), her wisdom, her constant selflessness, her penchant for love and compassion for all she met, and in Christ-like fashion, for always being there when needed.

Joan is survived by her loving children, Daniel (Sabrina) Midlik Jr., Pleasantville, PA; Mark Midlik, Warren, PA; Michael (Hsiaoling) Midlik, Greensburg, PA; and Ann Marie (John) Mull, Eden, Utah; three adored grandchildren, Benjamin and Austin Midlik and Grace Mull; and beloved sisters Donita (Frank) Slovensky, Mary Ruth (Robert) Componation, and Judith (Albert) Kraus. Few but family knew how to properly spell and pronounce her name, something she adapted to as life went on.

In addition to her parents (whom she always lovingly referenced as “mum” and “daddy”) and husband, Joan was preceded in death by her beloved siblings, who rarely missed an opportunity to connect for a life celebration or a catch-up phone call: Virginia (Bob) Kelly, Bill (Peggy) Luther, Ronald (Eva) Luther, Darl (Genevieve) Luther, Duane Luther, Jim (Deanna) Luther, Paul (Lacey) Luther, Pat (Yvonne) Luther, and Sylvia (John) Novotney. Joan was also a devoted sister-in-law to Dan’s siblings and their families.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Holy Redeemer RC Church, 11 Russell, St. Warren, PA, on Monday March 9, 2026, at 11:00 AM, with the Rev. Mark O’Hern, pastor, officiating. Family will receive guests from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM in the church. Burial will be in St. Joseph RC Cemetery. Those wishing to place memorials may do so through Holy Redeemer RC Church, 11 Russell St., Warren PA, 16365. The Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home Inc. has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com., or on our Facebook page. The Family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the caring staff at the Warren Manor for the love and support for Joan during her illness.