Joanne N. Apel, age 89, of Clermont, FL, passed away on April 23, 2019. She was born in Miami, FL on March 23, 1930 to her father and mother, Carl Harry Nelson and Gladys M. Nelson, who predeceased her. Joanne graduated from Miami High School and received her Bachelor's degree in Music
Education from Florida State University in 1951, the first graduating class after the school was known as Florida State College for Women. She briefly worked as the band instructor at schools in Quitman and
Adel, Georgia. She was married to Eugene N. Apel, Jr. on March 2, 1957, after they met in the church choir at Riverside Baptist Church in Miami, FL, and raised his two beloved children, Christine Woodall and Nick Apel. Her husband predeceased her on March 4, 2005. Joanne was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota for 70 years, the Clermont Women's Club, PEO, the Clermont Historical Society, and Open Door Baptist Church
where she attended since 2006. She faithfully attended the community Opera and Orchestra performances. She loved to sew, quilt, play Bunko and exercise in the pool three times a week with her friends. She loved to watch her Florida Seminoles play football; and, her church family and serving others were her passion. She is survived by her husband's children, Christine Woodall (Ken) of Hernando, FL, Nick Apel (Katherine) of Austin, TX; her children, Ellen Miller (Walter), of Ocala, FL, Jim Apel of Spokane, WA, Cynthia Hilburn (Keith) of Brooksville, FL; sisters, Judi N. Avant of Winter Garden, FL, and Jeanne Bolick of Micanopy, FL; grandchildren, Melissa Negron and Angela Steinway of CA, Stephen Apel and Mark Apel of Franklin, NC, Jessica Apel of Michigan and Danielle Apel of Fernandina Beach, FL, Kody Hilburn of Wesley Chapel, FL; several great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and friends and classmates throughout the years. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations and contributions be made to Open Door Baptist Church, Clermont, FL, or Cornerstone (Mike Conley House) Hospice in Clermont, FL.
