JoDean Joy
November 24, 1934 ~ October 12, 2024
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JoDean Joy, 89, of Miller, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Good Samaritan Society in Miller. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Miller, with Rev. Rhonda Wellsandt-Zell officiating. Burial will follow at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller. Visitation will be 6:00 p.m., Friday, October 18, 2024, followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.
Beverly JoDean Eschenbaum was born in Miller, South Dakota, and graduated from Miller High School. She attended one semester at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA before marrying the love of her life, Vernon Joy, on March 1, 1953. They lived in Biloxi, MS, and Huron, with the remaining 64 years in Miller.
Family was one of her greatest achievements. Even if you weren’t related by blood, she still considered you family and made sure you knew that. There was always food waiting if she knew you were coming over. In case you forgot her last name while at her home, all you had to do was look around and read the hundreds of Joys on every wall. Her collection was vast, expanding into every room of her house, vehicles, camper, and clothing. She was very proud to display her many Joys for all to see. She created “JOY” in her life – and the lives of others.
If you knew JoDean, you knew she was a force to be reckoned with. . . especially when it came to the things she believed in such as the local blood drive, anti-gambling organizations, and the Lions Club. Some of her passions included gardening, donut making, baking, volunteering countless hours at the school and church, fishing, sewing, and so much more. She led Sunday school, girl scouts/boy scouts, junior high track, and campground hosting at West Bend for many years, and served the Lutheran church through various volunteer opportunities. Staying busy was never an issue for her.
JoDean volunteered 38 of her years to the local blood drive. Many hours were spent calling and signing people up to donate, whether they wanted to or not! She was even known as the friendly vampire to many in the Miller community. The donut bin was always full, so people had a snack after giving blood. Many people claimed they donated because of her donuts!
Traveling was something Vernon and JoDean enjoyed: Mexico and Hawaii were favorite destinations along with cruising to multiple locations. They wintered in Arizona and Texas for many years, much warmer than South Dakota that time of year! While down in Texas they volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and hosted blood drives.
She is survived by her husband, Vernon, of 71 years; her children: Keith (Candy) Joy, Karen Rose (George) Kalvass, Kathy (Larry) Link, Kay Joy Barge, Kurt (Alanna) Joy, and bonus daughter, Odette Massimi; 25 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; brother and sisters-in-law: Bobby Eschenbaum, Richard Joy, Ardis (Glen) Koppelman, Don (Joan) Joy, and Doris Lofton.
JoDean is proceeded in death by her parents, Henry and Lena Eschenbaum; siblings: Robert (Donna), Ruth (Ola) Harrell, Harold (Vonnie), Duane, and Mary Ann Clodt; in-laws, Archie and Fern Joy; son-in-law, Ken Barge; brother-in-law, Jack Lofton; and sister-in-law, Delores Joy.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Fund or to Lutherans Outdoors/Outlaw Ranch.
The family encourages people to wear a blood donor t-shirt if they wish.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with JoDean’s arrangements.
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Aunt Jo was one in a million! From blood drive doughnuts to her collection of “Joy” knickknacks, she was always “ALL IN” in whatever she was doing. She always had a great story or a joke. She will be missed immensely and remembered fondly! ❤️
May your faith and the memories you shared carry you through this time. My sympathy to you all.
My sincere sympathy to the family of JoDean Joy.🙏🙏
So sorry to hear of JoDean's passing. I always enjoyed visiting with her. Sending prayers and hugs.
Thoughts and prayers for the Joy family!
My the lord heal all your sorrows!
I can say with 100% certainty that no individual has done more for the blood supply of South Dakota, than JoDean Joy. I wish there was a way to know just how many individuals JoDean recruited to donate blood and how many patients lives were impacted through her lifelong efforts. Heaven gained an incredible soul.
With love and admiration,
Abbie
I have wonderful memories of camping at the river with both our families. Lots of fun, good food, games and always laughter. May all your wonderful memories bring you comfort and peace. Keeping all of you in my prayers.
Barb Johnson Larson
(Daughter of Dorothy and John Johnson)
My sister in law for 71 years. She is the 1 who brought hugs into the Joy family. Besides all the doughnuts she made.
She will.be missed.
Our Sympathy to Vernon Joy and families..JoDean headed up the blood drive for a lot of years in Hand County with their “famous doughnuts” that everyone enjoyed after they had given their blood…(she would jokingly call herself the vampire when she was getting you sign up)..Eugene & Janice
Reflecting back over the years and this woman as I knew her. A force of nature, a lady, an advicate, someone you wanted to be proud of you because you had to earn it. She and Vernon standout in my memories as helpers and strong members of the community. So welcoming and helpful when we moved to Miller the end of my second grade year. So much support and friendship over the years to our whole family. Peace to you all.
Sorry to hear of Jo Deans passing she will be missed by all. Had many go times with her and the Joy family. My thoughts and prayers are with the Joy family’s. Ellen Kay.
Vernon and family: Jean and I send our sincere condolences on JoDean's passing. We know she is in the arms of her Lord and Savior. So glad we were able to visit in Texas during the winter and when we get "home" from time to time. Please know you all are in our thoughts and prayers. Godspeed JoDean!
I feel gratitude with life for a bonus Grandma in my life! Even in distance Grandma was always close, an email, facebook, family photos and some trips together, She was really a gift in my life! Will live for ever in us
I worked at United Blood Services and had the privilege of knowing JoDean through her tireless work recruiting donors for blood donations. She was always so quick with a joke and sharing her wonderful homemade donuts with the community at these blood drives. She holds a special place in my heart. She will be missed and heaven gained a beautiful angel. RIP JoDean. ❤️
JoDean was a giver and always seemed to be wearing her best smile. She lead a good life and was a fine cook and baker. Tom and I in our younger years hung out with Vernon and JoDean at Lions Club events. We had great fun. Her life was full and her faith was strong. Our sympathy for all the Joys. ❤️🙏❤️
So very sorry to hear to JoDean's passing. What a exceptional giving gal. Please accept my sincere condolences on your loss. She will be missed by so many.
To Vernon and family, Pam and send our sincere condolences. JoDean was so much to so many. Everyone knew her for the many Blood Drives she organized and recruited for, but she was so much more. For me, she was a true friend to my mother, always keeping an eye on her and helping her when there was a need. JoDean was a blessing. She will be missed but not forgotten.
This family loves with grace and abundance. What a blessing to have been surrounded by such love in life’s final chapter. May time carry you gently as you grieve. With love to all. K
To my dear friend Kay and family .
I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your precious mother JoDean.
May God be with you all holding you in his arms. Remembering the good times and being thankful for th times she shared with you all. She was truly a blessing from God.
Sending ❤️ 🫂
JoDean has and will always be with us in spirit – and spirit she had! The Joys' embodied Christ when they took us in for days while waiting for the parsonage to be ready and treated us as family from day one. JoDean saved the day for me when she sewed the ear back on my beloved Brownie Puppy when it ended up the object of a bit of tug of war with me and a young Kurt who was feeling a bit displaced I'm sure – especially by three young girls. Listening to a Bay City Rollers 8-track and "playing" pool and other adventures while we stayed our memories will long stay with me. Her passion for her lobbying against gambling and the devastation it can cause and her passion for sharing her love of donuts and food and Christ-centered community will long outlive the earthly body she left here as her soul rose to the heavens. Sincerely Heidi
Kay and Family, My sympathy to All in the Loss of Your Very Vibrant JoDean, from her Earthly life To her Heavenly Life!! Blessings and Comfort to All, Sincerely, Randy L Richards
Kay, Keith, Kurt, and family, may your loving happy memories comfort you now and always
I was so sorry to hear of JoDean's passing. When I was in high school, she was my senior scout leader. I will always remember JoDean's donuts, which were the hit of every bake sale. My thoughts and prayers to the Joy family. She will be missed for everything she did for Miller.
Let us in the faithfulness of JoDean's effort to Stop Predatory Gambling know that her victory in stopping Kevin Costner's bid to put a casino in the Black Hills was a rallying cry that has and will continue. The truth she confronted Governors with will march on as we battle on in her spirit
Thinking of your big wonderful family together celebrating the life of your beloved, JoDean Joy,makes me smile even though I know the loss is great. The stories that were shared with me about her and the brief time I spent with her conveyed that her life was one of consequence. Her rich legacy is both admirable and inspirational. Those of us left behind have a dear example of how to make the most of life
JoDean was the first person to come up to me after I attended Trinity Lutheran Church for the first time she introduced herself and said something funny and we both had a good laugh. She talked me into volunteering for a blood drive almost immediately. She will be remembered very fondly. Godspeed on her heavenly journey.
So sorry for your loss, Vernon and family. JoDean left a big footprint in Miller.