Joyce E. Dice: 1934 – 2009
Joyce E. Dice, 75, a resident of Eel River Township near Huntertown, and wife of Keith M. Dice, died at 4:10 p. m. on Friday, August 28, 2009, at Parkview North Hospital in Fort Wayne. She had been in declining health since January.
Mrs. Dice was born in Huntington on July 29, 1934, a daughter of Paul and Katherine [Marshall] Whitacre, and spent her formative years in that community. She graduated from Huntington High School in 1952, and earned her R. N. from the Parkview School of Nursing in Fort Wayne in 1955.
On July 21, 1957 she was united in marriage in Huntington to Keith M. Dice, and lived her adult life on the family farm in Eel River Township, northwest of Huntertown. Employed as a registered nurse, she had worked at Parkview Hospital, Byron Health Center, and retired in 1999 from St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne.
She was a member of Christ’s Hope Church, the Parkview Alumni Association, and had served as a Sunday School teacher for several years. In her leisure time she enjoyed swimming and traveling, and found pleasure working in her flower garden. Most importantly she loved her children and grandchildren.
The surviving relatives include her husband Keith, to whom she was married for over 52 years; her children Karen S. [Lee] Sloffer, Kathy L. [Mark] Wehrle, and Kevin H. [Dawn] Dice, all of Fort Wayne; her mother Katherine Whitacre of Fort Wayne; a sister Marjorie Bowden of Urbana, Ill; a brother James [Elaine] Whitacre of Huntington; and her grandchildren Cole, Hope, Drew, Brooke, and Blake Wehrle, and Laura, Grant, and Katie Sloffer.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by a daughter Karla K. Dice on August 8, 1982.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at Christ’s Hope Church, 2818 Carroll Road, with Pastor Erick Riddle, officiating.
The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Tuesday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service.
Interment will be in the Eel River Cemetery, Allen County.
For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Christ’s Hope Church.
*********************************
To leave a condolence for the family in Mrs. Dice’s memory, please click on “Condolences” below. . .
August 30th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I was a classmate of Joyce and you have my deepest sympathy.
We are living in Louisiana, but I and my husband will be thinking about you.
August 30th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
To the Dice Family,
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. I was a close friend of Karla’s in High School and her loss was so terrible. I have moved far away (Reno, Nevada) but my father helps to keep me connected to friends and family in Indiana. Please accept my sincere condolances for your family. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Shelley
August 31st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I have only pleasant memories of Joyce, a fun/positive person with quick smile, and one of my good friends, especially through Riley Elementary School,in the 40s. Remembering her will always bring a smile to me.
August 31st, 2009 at 6:17 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
September 1st, 2009 at 9:53 am
On behalf of the Parkview Dietitians, we wish to express our deepest sympathy to Kathy and her family in the loss of your mother, wife and grandmother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time of loss.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Dear Keith, Kevin, Kathy, Karen and family: I am with you now in the time of sorrow. Please know that we have asked God to lift this burden of sorrow and remember that Joyse will be walking the golden streets with our Lord. Joyce has struggled for almost nine months to regain her health and now can rest. Joyce was my high school friend and classmate for 3 years at Parview School of Nursing. She was like a sister and we have remained friends with her and her family all these years. Bob and I have many good memories with time spent with her and family there and here in Florida.
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Dear Kevin and family, Dave and I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I just read it in the paper today and was sorry we missed coming to give you our condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Dear Kevin and family: I am sad to hear about your loss. Mrs. Dice was one of the first adults besides my parents I knew, and I’ll always remember how nice she was to me. You have my condolences.
September 4th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
To the family and friends of Joyce – I want to say, what a wonderful service of celebration we attended depicting a woman of faith and love to her God and family and friends. She so abundantly shared with so many, her compassion and giving spirit.
Joyce was a classmate from Parkview Methodist School of Nursing – we gathered every five years for reunions and she always was such a joy – we loved her so. God bless each of you and our condolences to the family.
Shalom, Auline and Allan Nyberg
September 28th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Dearest Karen and Kathy and family,
I was so sad to hear of the passing of your wonderful mom and sorry that I wasn’t able to attend. We were out of town during that time.
Your mom always made me feel at home and loved when there were overnights at your house. I will always remember her sweet spirit and gentleness.
Please know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers during this bittersweet time and difficult walk.
May you find extreme comfort in all the beautiful memories shared with her, and rejoice in the fact that she continues to bring joy and compassion in heaven!!