Joan (Collins) Lowry ‘98
Joanie (Collins) Lowry, 46, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2026, after a multi-year battle with cancer, which she faced with courage, grace, and unflinching faith.
Joanie was born in Columbus, Ohio on July 14, 1980, to Ann (Starbuck) Collins and Joseph Collins. She always went by Joanie to distinguish her from her beloved aunt and namesake, Joan (Starbuck) Defenbaugh, who preceded her in death on August 29, 2022.
In 1990, Joanie’s mother married Dennis Brown, and together they built a loving home and family in Columbus, where Joanie blossomed into the lively, pleasantly bossy and kind-hearted young woman so many knew and loved. She graduated from St. Francis DeSales High School in 1998.
Shortly after graduation she moved to Marysville with DJ Lowry. There they raised their two beautiful children, Kaitlyn and Collin, who will carry their mother’s warm and joyful spirit with them throughout their lives.
Joanie truly found a home in Marysville. Its small-town friendliness and rural roots suited her perfectly. Energetic and outgoing, she worked for several local businesses, including a winery, where she enjoyed connecting with so many people in the community. In her final position, Joanie worked as an aide in a neurology practice. Drawing on her own experience with a serious diagnosis, she offered comfort, understanding, and encouragement to patients facing difficult news.
She was baptized at Marysville Grace Church, where she found meaning, faith and fellowship as a member of that congregation. She also loved going out with friends for trivia game nights, shooting pool at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and visiting her father, Joe, and his family in Florida whenever she could.
She was preceded in death by her aunt, Joan (Starbuck) Defenbaugh; her paternal grandparents, Robert and Katy Collins; her maternal grandparents, Chuck Platt and Ron and Margie Starbuck; and her uncle, Bob Collins.
Joanie is survived by her children, Kaitlyn and Collin; the father of her children, DJ Lowry; her mother and stepfather, Ann and Dennis Brown; her father and stepmother, Joe and Tina Collins; her siblings, Anna (Joseph) Brown, Aleksandr Brown, Amanda Williams and Chris Lawler; her grandmother, Loretta Platt; her aunts and uncles, including Jerry Defenbaugh, David (Barb) Starbuck, Guy (Denise) Starbuck, Cliff (Andrea) Starbuck and Marty Collins; her cousins, including Casey (Geron) Tate, Jacob (Eileen) Defenbaugh, Michelle (Mike) Gallion and Nick (Judi) Starbuck; and many other loving family members and friends.
Joanie was taken from us far too young and the world will feel a little dimmer without her light. But those who loved her will strive to carry forward her generosity and joy—and will never forget the brightness of her smile.