Joan Lee (Davis) Reppert, 90 A Lifetime of Family, Faith, and Music. Joan Lee (Davis) Reppert, age 90, of Ithaca, NY, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca. Joan was born on December 28, 1935, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Elmira, NY. She was the daughter of the late John and Ruth Ann (Robinson) Davis. Joan married the late Rev. Nelson Roger Reppert on June 19, 1955, and they had three children together. She was a graduate of Addison High School, Class of 1953, where she participated in cheerleading and concert band. Joan held a BS in Music Education from Mansfield University and an MA in Religious Studies from Mundelein College, and received graduate credit from Ithaca College.
Music, faith, and family were the guiding passions in Joan's life. She taught piano for three decades and was certified as a Suzuki string instructor. Joan was a widely published composer and arranger, primarily of songs of worship. Early in her career, she held teaching certifications in both New York and Pennsylvania and served as a music teacher in the Corning-Painted Post School District. Throughout her life, Joan served as a sought-after piano accompanist for many vocal groups, including the Barnstormers Men's Chorus.
Joan held a variety of roles in the United Methodist Church, where her husband Nelson served as Minister. Joan was on the musical staff of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Ithaca, where she developed a 35-member folk choir, a 20-member children's choir, and a handbell choir program that included three separate groups. She also directed musical dramas for worship. Throughout her career, Joan played piano and organ at numerous Methodist churches, including St. Paul's in Ithaca, University Methodist in Syracuse, Grace United Methodist in Corning, and Christ's United Methodist Church in Elmira. She also served at congregations in Tully and Pulaski, NY, and Jacksonville, FL.
For many years, Joan served as a communications officer for the Upper New York Conference of United Methodist Women (now United Women in Faith). She also held administrative and youth ministry roles with a number of United Methodist Churches at various times throughout her career.
In addition to her music and her faith, for Joan, family was the third leg of a life well-lived. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, and an extended family of siblings, in-laws, nieces, and nephews. For decades, Joan and Nelson served as hosts and eager participants in summertime gatherings of family and friends at Keuka Lake—joyous occasions filled with competitive watersports, delicious food, gentle ribbing, and enjoyment of the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes. According to Joan's younger sister Linda Roth, the family cottage on Keuka was always her "happy place."
Joan was the eldest of four siblings. Joan's youngest brother Richard Davis, 12 years her junior, has fond memories of his sister being selected as the Addison Fire Department's Fireman's Queen and getting to ride on the float in the Village parade. Alan Davis, meanwhile, recalls his sister singing "I'm Called Little Buttercup" as the lead in the Addison High School production of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore. "She had a great, great life," Alan recalls about his sister Joan. "She loved a lot of people, and everyone loved her."
Joan is survived by her three children: Denise (Joseph) McEnerney, LuAnn (Tom) Love, and Timothy (Victoria) Reppert; seven grandchildren: Andrew Noyes (with Anna Chapman), Angela McEnerney, Laura McEnerney, Charlie Love, Remy Love, Sophie Reppert, and Louie Reppert; great-granddaughter Wilhelmina Noyes; sister Linda Roth; brothers Richard (Patricia) Davis and Alan (Sue) Davis; sisters-in-law Judy Aho and Fran Reppert; many devoted nieces and nephews; and longtime friend Gary Hakes. Along with her parents and husband, Joan was predeceased by her brothers-in-law Dan Reppert, Robert Aho, and Jay Roth; sisters-in-law Carol Reppert and Ruth Reppert; and longtime friend June Hakes.
Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Joan's life to be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Ithaca, NY, on Saturday, March 14th, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joan's name may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.