Joyce Gjerde

Joyce G. Gjerde, 87, of Ottawa passed away Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Ottawa Pavilion. Funeral service will be 10:00 Thursday, May 28, 2015 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. David Kipfer officiating. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at Ottawa Funeral Home with prayers at 3:45. Burial will be in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. Joyce was born July 20, 1927 in Streator, Illinois to Vernon and Angeline (Hetala) Benckendorf. She married Myron Gjerde on August 11, 1941; he passed away July 20, 1999. She worked for many years at St. Columba Grade School in the cafeteria. She was a member of St. Columba Church, Altar and Rosary Society, and The Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She volunteered at the Ottawa Food Pantry for over twenty years and also volunteered at PADS homeless shelter. She is survived by her children, Peggy (Ronald) Gunderson of Marseilles, Kimerly Kline of Rockford, and Mark (Peggy) Gjerde of Ottawa; eight grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and two sisters, Elsie "Ciddy" Myers and Tammy Morris. She is preceded in death by her husband, Myron; her parents; one son, Michael David Gjerde; one daughter, Sonja Sherman; one brother, Alan "Buddy" Benckendorf; and five sisters, LaVerne Vavaroutsos, Audry Hendrick, Lois Shockey, Elizabeth and Karen Benckendorf. Memorials may be directed to the Ottawa Food Pantry.