Claire B. Herman

Claire B. Herman, 84, of Mesa, Arizona, formerly of Genoa, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2023, peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Claire and her twin sister Dorothy (Juby), who preceded her in death, were born in 1938 in Toledo, Ohio to Warren and Ann Sanford. She married Raymond Thompson June in 1959, and they had three children, Nancy, David, and Daniel. They were married for almost 13 years when Ray passed away unexpectedly in May of 1972.

Claire attended Bowling Green University while raising her three children and received her bachelor’s degree in Education and then her master’s degree from The University of Toledo. She would go on to teach in the Genoa School System starting out as a teacher’s aide, teaching migrant school in the summers, moving to the 2nd grade at Camper Elementary and ending her career at the Junior High School in Genoa by teaching computer classes. She also coached the girls’ volleyball team at the junior high.

In June 1977 Claire and Ken Herman married. They had known each other from attending DeVilbiss High School together. Ken had two children, Cheryl, and Harry who preceded him in death. They were together for 41 years until Ken’s passing August 1, 2018. They spent many years in Genoa boating and fishing on Lake Erie and eventually bought a fifth wheel travel trailer and started traveling. In 2000 they moved to Mesa, Arizona, where they enjoyed playing bridge and golfing. One of Claires favorite things to do in the mobile home park was to drove anyone who wanted to go to Fort McDowell Casino for entertainment of bingo and slot machines. She did this for many years. She was actually very lucky. She always played with her own little “pot of gold”. Claire loved when any of her family would come to visit. She never wanted them to leave. She loved to go out to play golf with Dan and Dave or go out to eat Mexican food with anyone who would go. Claire also loved to just sit and read for hours on end or watch her favorite game shows Jeopardy and The Price is Right. Her beautiful smile will be missed. 

Claire is survived by her three children: Nancy (Ron) Swigonski, David Thompson, Daniel (Cindie) Thompson; as well as her stepdaughter Cheryl (Tim) Leppert, grandchildren Lauren (Quinten) Jackson, Moriah (Cole) Sims, Emma Leppert, step grandchildren Lindsy (Keith) Garner, Lauren Perry, and Ryan Perry along with 9 great step grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday August 1, 2023, at St. Johns United Church of Christ, 1213 Washington Street, Genoa, OH, 43430. It will be followed by a luncheon in the church gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Claires Memory/Honor to: The Genoa Area Local Schools Scholarship Foundation, Attn: Brian Huston, Genoa Bank, PO Box 98, Genoa, OH       43430