William D. Joanis

William Dove Joanis, 82, of Macon passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2013. He was the only child of Dr. William Cyril Joanis & Mrs. Marion Maude Smith Joanis. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:oo noon on Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Allan McDonald officiating. A Rosary will be said at 6:00 PM Friday at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Donations in Mr. Joanis’ memory may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Society, c/o Family Advancement Ministries, 538 Orange St., Macon, GA 31201 or to the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, 304 Pierce Ave., Macon, GA 31204.

Born in Macon, GA., he attended St. Joseph’s School and Lanier High School. Mr. Joanis was an accomplished violinist having started playing at the age of 7. He was in the violin class of Mrs. Helen Gepp McCaren which started with 10 students and late had dwindled by natural attrition to just one student…, Bill Joanis. Mr. Joanis left Lanier High School because there was no opportunity to pursue his instrument there. He graduated from St. Bernard’s High School & College in Cullman, AL. St. Bernard’s is staffed by Benedictine Priest & Monks who live the Monastic life there. A conservatory educated Priest, Father Daniel Harris supervised Mr. Joanis’ continuing study of the violin and under the strict discipline and hearty encouragement of Father Harris and other Priest of the faculty, Mr. Joanis thrived.

After graduation from St. Bernard’s High School, Mr. Joanis attended Mercer University and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Accounting. Mr. Joanis was in Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at Mercer and at the University of Georgia. He served in the Army during the Korean War and was a retired accountant.

Mr. Joanis had a phenomenal memory for identifying and memorizing numerous classical pieces of music all of his life. He played with several symphony orchestras in his career and played in the Second Violin Section of the Macon Symphony Orchestra for 29 years.

Mr. Joanis was a past Governor of the Macon Moose Lodge #1455, and Past Faithful Navigator of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a past President of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and served as Past Southeastern Regional President.

Mr. Joanis is survived by his wife, Mrs. Susan O. Joanis; his son, William Glenn Joanis; his daughter, Sandra Diane Joanis; step-son, Ronnie C. Heslop (Gabi); grandchildren, Christy Harden Gillam and Emilie Marie Heslop; and two great grandchildren.

Please visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.