Joanna Van Oosterhout

Joanna Strasser Van Oosterhout, of Cleveland, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends in Asheville, NC on Monday, October 3, 2022, just shy of her 93rd birthday. She was predeceased by her mother, Mary Alice Marrs Strasser, her father Raymond C. Strasser and her brother, William E. Strasser. She leaves behind daughter Sarah Van Oosterhout Shannon, son-in-law Lawrence H. Shannon of Wilmington, NC; daughter Susan Van Oosterhout Delaloye, son-in-law John F. Delaloye, Jr. of Asheville; NC; son Peter D.Van Oosterhout of Cleveland Heights, OH, and her four grandchildren, Meghan Shannon, Peter Shannon, John F. Delaloye III, and Joseph Delaloye.

A resident of Cleveland for over 60 years, she was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, spent time living and working in Chicago as well as New York City before moving to and eventually settling in the Cleveland area for the balance of her lifetime.

A smart, hardworking professional from an early age, as well as a woman known for being ahead of her time, she worked before and after her marriage, most notably at Conde Nast as Fashion Editor for Vogue and Glamour magazines, before being lured away from the magazine business to join Cleveland’s premier boutique department store, Halle Brothers as its Fashion Director in 1960.

After a long and notable career in the fashion industry, she became an active volunteer in the Cleveland community and was involved with a wide range of organizations, including Skyline Campus, Shaker Square Area Development, The Cleveland Museum of Art Women’s Council, The Garden Club of Cleveland, Planned Parenthood of Cleveland, as well as The 21st Century Investment Club. Upon leaving her long time residence in Shaker Heights for her new home in Moreland Courts, she quickly put her talents to use serving on their Board of Directors, as well as spearheading many building and grounds related projects over the course of her long tenure as a resident.

A celebration of her extraordinary life will take place in Cleveland at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joanna Van Oosterhout’s memory to the Women’s Council Philanthropic Fund at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Donations should be mailed to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Attn: Donor Records, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106 or made online at https://give.clevelandart.org.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.