Velma Jean Hersland

Velma Jean Hersland, age 96, passed away on December 22, 2021, at Ohio Living Swan Creek, Toledo, OH, where she had resided for seven years. She was born to Harry and Lura (Barlow) Bisher on July 19, 1925. Jean graduated from the former Grand Rapids (OH) High School and was a 1949 graduate of Bowling Green State University where she taught Kindergarten and supervised student teachers in the former University School. Jean met her husband, John Hersland, at BGSU where he had returned to complete his degree after serving in the Pacific in World War II. After marriage and moving to Toledo, Jean continued her teaching Kindergarten at Fort Miami School in Maumee, OH. They started a building project in northern Michigan and each summer enjoyed time with family and friends while adding to their property project. In the 1950’s she became a stay-at-home mother for several years and returned to teaching at Fort Miami in 1961. In her long-standing commitment to education, Jean was a Life Member of the Lucas County and Ohio Retired Teachers Association, and Pi Lambda Theta International Honor and Professional Association in Education. She was always an active volunteer and leader in the community. In her stay-at-home years, in 1952 she served as president of the Heatherdowns Garden Club and in 1959 of the Heatherdowns School Mothers’ Club where their children attended. Jean was a member of the Maumee Circle of Child Conservation League (CCL) which was a state organization. In 1960 she was elected president of the Toledo Federation of Child Conservation Leagues and at that time there were 66 circles in the Toledo area and 1,300 members. After returning to teaching at Fort Miami in 1961, she was invited to teach a summer session class in 1964 at San Diego State College Laboratory School. The family accompanied her to San Diego and have fond memories of their time in California as well as the southern route out and the northern trip back to Ohio. Jean was a member of the Maumee Valley Historical Society and served on the Education Committee for many years. After retiring from teaching in 1987, she was a docent at the Wolcott Heritage Center in Maumee, and received the Coordinator Award in 2007 for Volunteer Appreciation. She was a school guide at the Box School after it was moved to the Wolcott Center from the farm of Jacob Box, who was Jean’s great-grandfather. Jean was recognized in Who’s Who in American Education in 1967; named a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar in 1973; and in 1987, the year of her retirement from teaching, she was awarded the Outstanding Educator of the Year by the Maumee chapter of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs. She held offices and was on the board of Samagama, Club of Presidents; Honorary Life Member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW); a life member and volunteer for the Toledo Symphony League; and a long-time member of the former Zion United Methodist Church where she sang in the chancel choir for over 60 years. Other memberships included The Toledo Zoo; The Toledo Museum of Art; The Humane Society; Friends of the Library; and Toledo Metroparks Parks, which included many hours of volunteering at the Stranahan Manor House. As former students and alumni, both Jean and her husband were loyal supporters of BGSU in many volunteer and appointed services for the University. She was a member of Falcon Flames, the Falcon Club, the Carillan Society and BGSU President’s Club. In 1994 she was elected to serve on the Bowling Green State University Alumni Association Board of Trustees for the next four years. Among her many duties and activities she was a Vice-chair of the College of Education and Human Development Alumni Relations Committee, assisted staff with College Nights at High Schools, and served on the Alumni Scholarship and Master Teachers Award selection committee. In 1999 Jean was the recipient of the Junior League of Toledo Community Service Award. In 2000 she received a Woman of Toledo Award given by St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Auxiliary. In 2016 Jean received the Golden Falcon Award, presented to her at the annual induction ceremony by former BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey, for fifty years of continuous support and participation at Bowling Green State University. After moving to Ohio Living Swan Creek she continued remaining active by participating in the Swan Creek Singers and was on various committees. Jean’s greatest pleasure was being with her family. She felt so grateful to have lived long enough to enjoy her great-grandchildren. She is survived by her daughter, Ann (Steve) Clark; son, Thomas (Linda) Hersland; grandchildren, Katherine Barbato, Lauren (Andrew) O’Donnell, Jennifer (Patrick) Castle, Eric (Laura) Hersland, and Ashley (Domanic) Bloomfield; step-grandchildren, Susan (Paul) Coughlin and Jonathan (Teresa) Parfitt. Great-grandchildren, Avery and Leighton Barbato, twins Lucy and Kate, Emma and Zoey O’Donnell; Natalie and Alex Hersland; Jake, Annie and Sam Castle; Eliana and Miles Bloomfield; step-great grandchildren, Eryn and Ryan Coughlan; Jonathan II, Raina and Liliana Parfitt. Jean is preceded in death by her parents; husband; a sister, Gladys Agler; and a brother, I. John Bisher. A celebration of Jean’s Life will take place at a later date