Jolene Tschantz

Jolene (Jojo) Johnston Tschantz passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on May 28, 2026. She was born March 21, 1947, to the late Herb and Avanell “Sue” Johnston in Canton, OH. She graduated from Jackson High School in 1965 and spent many hours during her teenage years practicing and pursuing competitive roller skating in which she received top honors at both the state and national level.

She went on to attend Florida State University where she graduated in just three short years. After undergrad she received her masters degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Kent State. She was married to her husband Tom on November 22, 1969, and they spent 56 years together. She was the proud mother of three children Tiff (Blake), Troy and Trent, whom she encouraged to always strive to be their very best — in the classroom, in sports, and later in life as they pursued their careers and their own journeys through parenthood.

Tom and Jolene were very social throughout their 56-year marriage entertaining and hosting friends and family for many parties and get togethers, most beloved her famous Christmas Eve parties where all were welcome and many gathered until the late hours of the night. She was a wonderful cook, some of her most requested dishes being her “simply” potatoes, chocolate bundt cake with caramel frosting, Christmas bark, and her very rare beef tenderloin. They also loved dining out at Bender’s Restaurant with friends and family. Bender’s was the site of not only their first date but also her last birthday celebration which was held there in March of 2026.

She taught in Canton City Schools before starting her very own “first of its kind preschool” called Sights on Success in the early 80’s where she focused on special needs children and early intervention. Later she settled in at Louisville Schools where she spent most of her career helping many young students until she went on to retire in the early 2000’s.

She cherished her trips to Hilton Head Island and Naples, Florida, where she spent many hours golfing, walking the beach for countless miles, reading her favorite authors from books she checked out at the North Canton library, and dining out at her favorite restaurants.

Later in life she turned more toward her Christian faith and enjoyed bible study with her close friends in her condo complex and was inspired to write and publish a poetry book entitled Poems and Prayers to Ponder by JJ Tschantz, in which her granddaughter Estelle had the honor of illustrating. In this book she was able to reflect on both the joys and sorrows in her life and ultimately find light in the Lord.

She was an avid golfer, and loved to play in Akron District, and get out on the course with her friends at CLC, having the most fun playing in “the purse” every Sunday.

But where she found her greatest joy and true pleasure in life was in the absolute love and admiration she had for her grandchildren, Lucy, Myers, Amelia, Estelle, Claire, Leigh and Jake, whom all affectionately called her “Meems”.

It was in them she found true love and relished every moment she spent with them.

One of their most special memories was the annual cousin sleepovers hosted by “Meems,” where cookies were baked and decorated, blankets and pillows covered the living room floor, and the nights stretched into mornings filled with endless laughter, stories, and love.

She will be so dearly missed by all who loved her.

A final message of gratitude:

We are so thankful for Advantage Hospice, especially Sarah, Kenny, Taylor, Jen, and Dr. Nam as they were all there for Jolene and her family during a very difficult time.

And lastly, a huge thank you to her very special caregivers, Emaly, Kyla, Brandy, Crystal, and the one that spent the most time with her, Susan. Thank you for reading her bible versus daily, and for listening to music, dancing and just overall spoiling her. She was happy, and you helped make her end of life so meaningful. We will be forever grateful.

Per Jolene’s wishes - In lieu of a memorial service the family will gather for a celebration of life at a later date on Hilton Head Island.

In her honor memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.