Ms. Joanie Strohm – Marshall, NC
Joanie was raised on a farm near the big town of Table Rock (population 300) in southeastern Nebraska. She was baptized in an Evangelical United Brethren Church. Her mother took her to Ladies Aid at 5 weeks old, so she started attending women’s church meetings very early in life. Her mother was a great influence on her being active in United Methodist Women.
Joanie attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska, for two years, took time off to raise a family and later graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. Because her husband was a civil engineer, she and her family have lived in 16 different states. During the time at every new location, she was either teaching full-time or substitute teaching.
When she and her husband moved to North Carolina, Joanie became very involved in the church, holding numerous positions in the church and teaching Sunday School to adults and children.
When joining Weaverville United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women encouraged her to join their unit, become an officer in the district, and to consider being on the conference team.
Joanie is the President of the Western North Carolina Conference United Women in Faith. She lives in the country between Marshall and Weaverville with husband, Stan, and their dog, Deitz. Hobbies include embroidery, counted cross-stitch, reading, and watching sports, especially any sport played by the Nebraska Cornhuskers.