Mercer County native Joan M. Pax Bruns, 72, of in Ottoville, died at 5:45 a.m. Oct. 21, 2006, at her residence.

She was born April 16, 1934, in New Weston, to Jacob and Antoinette Nordenbrock Pax. On Aug. 20, 1955, she married Robert A. Bruns, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Michael (Donna), Coldwater, and David (Barb), Tiffin; five daughters, Teresa (James) Bloomfield, Lima, Angela (Mark) Utrup, Delphos, Carol (Shawn) McGee, Cincinnati, Janet (Curt) Cok, Willard, and Barbara (Eric) Mueller, Bowling Green; four brothers, James Pax, Texas, Clyde (Anne) Pax, Charlottesville, Va., Alfred (Mary) Pax, Columbus, and Charles (Julie) Pax, Cambridge, Md.; four sisters, Adeline Laihr, Columbus, Mary Hunt, Cleveland, Dorothy (Ed) Stoermer, Vandalia, and Sister Joel Pax, South Bend, Ind.; and 15 grandchildren.

Deceased are two brothers, Paul and Henry Pax and a sister, Grace Pax.

In her 34 years in education she taught at Coldwater, Cranberry School and Ottoville Elementary. The past 20 years were devoted to children with special needs and for 14 years she was an educational consultant with Putnam County Schools. She graduated in three years in 1951 from St. Henry High School; from the Lay Ministry & Diaconate Formation Program and Work-Study Coordinators (OASWSC); in 1955 with her bachelor's degree in education from St. Francis College, Fort Wayne, Ind.; and in 1966 with her master's degree in education from Bowling Green University.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, and its altar-rosary society, liturgy committee, lector, Eucharistic minister and teacher. She was also a member of the Child Conservation League (CCL) of Delphos and Ottoville.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, the Rev. John Stites and Deacon Jose Flores officiating. Burial is at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Ottoville.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. today and 9-10 a.m. Tuesday at Harter & Schier Funeral Home, Delphos. Parish Wake Service is 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home with Deacon Flores officiating.

Contributions can be made to Ottoville Immaculate Conception Educational Foundation.