Carolyn Joann "Jan" Widiger (nee Straszheim), 88, of Parma, passed away on Sunday, August 20,
2017, at the Residential Hospice Facility of Southwest General Health
Center in Strongsville following a recent stroke. Born on April 16, 1929
in Columbus, OH, Jan was the eldest of five children of Robert E. and
Clara Belle (nee Shepherd) Straszheim, moving with her parents to West
Lafayette, IN at age 4, living there through completion of her
undergraduate studies. Jan was an early academic high achiever,
graduating from West Lafayette High School at age 16 and from Purdue
University, in 1949, at age 20 with a B.A. degree. In 1953 she graduated
with a MBA degree from Indiana University, majoring in Marketing - one
of the first women to receive an MBA from this institution. Jan was
hired by Dow Chemical Co. of Midland, MI, in public relations, and
introduced the world to "Saran Wrap" in 1953. While working at Dow, Jan
met, and in 1958 married her husband of 59 years, Almar T. "Al" Widiger,
a chemical engineer. After Dow, Jan founded and operated her own public
relations company, Promotive Arts, for 16 years. In 1974, employment
took Jan and Al to Cleveland. Jan was inquisitive and meticulous by
nature, and in the 1950's found the stock market as a never-ending test
of wits and knowledge. In 1974 she transitioned her avocation into a
full-time career, becoming an accomplished individual investor, and a
philanthropist. As a pioneer for women in business and management, Jan
enjoyed providing educational opportunities and training for other
women. In this regard, she established scholarships and made regular
donations to Purdue University, Indiana University, Ivy Tech in Indiana
and to Tri-C in Cleveland. Jan and her husband Al were long-term
financial supporters of Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg
Heights. For 37 years she was an active volunteer in the AARP Tax Aide
program in Cleveland. Jan was a mineral collector and amateur
silversmith, long active with the Parma Lapidary Club. Jan and Al
enjoyed traveling worldwide, including several pre-Castro visits to
Cuba. Jan loved telling and sharing stories with family and friends on
travel, business, markets and more. Jan's husband Al died in January
2017. They had no children. Jan is survived by three siblings; Robert
Straszheim of Waverly, IA; Karen Straszheim Webster of Marietta, GA; and
Donald Straszheim of Pacific Palisades, CA, as well as her siblings'
spouses and 14 nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 2
P.M. on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at the BUSCH FUNERAL HOME, 7501
RIDGE RD., PARMA, WITH A RECEPTION BEGINNING AT 1 P.M. Interment will be
private at a later date at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens, West Lafayette,
IN. In lieu of flowers, please consider a personal donation in Jan's
name to the Indiana University Foundation, Widiger MBA Fellowship
Memoriam, IU Kelley School of Business, 1275 E. 10th St., Bloomington,
IN 47405. 440-842-7800 www.buschcares.com
No comments:
Post a Comment