Joyce Elaine (Shoemaker) Yoder, 74, of Angola, Indiana, died peacefully on March 13, 2025, from complications of a virus. She was born in Freeport, Illinois, February 26, 1951, to Donald and Ila June (Litwiller) Shoemaker.

Joyce was married on August 3, 1974, to John E. Yoder, who survives. She is survived by her sons and their families: John C. (Valerie) Yoder, Henry and Lucy of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Nick (Jessica) Yoder, Finley and Victoria of Portland, Oregon. She is also survived by her sister, Nelda (Bill) Wittig of Coralville, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews.

Joyce grew up on the Shoemaker family farm in Freeport near grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. With laughter and love, they shared the jobs of the changing seasons. Her cousins and younger siblings looked up to Joyce, always the organizer of their long summer evening games of hide and seek, baseball, or kick-the-can.

After her graduation from Dakota High School, Dakota, Illinois, Joyce became a student at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in music in 1973. Later, she earned a Master of Library Science degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana in 1979.

Joyce was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice and was an accomplished pianist. After college, she taught music and directed musicals at Eastside High School in Butler, Indiana. Her passion for books and reading led to her second profession. At Tri-State (now Trine) University, she was a reference librarian, and later, a reference librarian at the Williams County Public Library in Bryan, Ohio. She then became librarian at Stryker Local Schools in Stryker, Ohio, where she served for seven years. Later in her career, Joyce returned to the Williams County Public Library and became a knowledgeable, well-known authority on the history of the area.

Joyce and John raised their family in Bryan, Ohio, where they lived between 1973 and 2012. Joyce became involved in Bryan’s arts and intellectual programs. She was a member and officer of the town’s Literary Forum. As a member of the Williams County YWCA, she helped to sponsor concerts performed by the Toledo Symphony for school-age children and for evening performances. Joyce and John were members at Zion Mennonite Church (Archbold, OH) where they were singers in the church choir. They were also members of Madrigal choir group in Bryan. For several years during the Christmas season, Joyce established and operated Fireside Books, part of the Christmas Manor gift shop. “Forever” friendships were formed among the women in the Tuesdays with Books club that continued for twenty years.

Imagining retirement years, John and Joyce purchased a small cottage on a hillside above a lake in Angola, Indiana. It became the venue for many family and friend gatherings of swimming, boating, cook-outs, and fun. Later, John and Joyce built a new house that replaced the old with plenty of room where generations of families and friends would be comfortable. They retired and moved to the lake house in 2012. Their dream became a reality, and memories abound among all who have experienced the pleasures of Lake Gage.

Joyce is known far and wide for her generous hospitality. She prepared meticulously for her guests. Snacks, delicious food, beverages for all ages, stacks of beach towels, fascinating books, pertinent magazines, and creature comforts of all sorts were available. Always, Joyce was considerate and kind!

Joyce loved living by the lake. One of her favorite activities was to climb into her kayak during the quiet morning hours. She would paddle over the water as she communed with the birds and waterfowl that frequented the lake. Slow, smooth boat rides around the lake’s perimeter were her favorite evening pastimes. Joyce enjoyed observing seasonal changes of bird and animal visitors to the lake environs. She always noted the presence of the noisy Sandhill Cranes.

The days that her sons’ families spent at the lake were some of the best. Jumping in and out of the water, rides on the wave runners, or in a tube pulled by their grandfather’s boat delighted Joyce’s four lively, fearless grandchildren! If rain spoiled the outdoor fun, they could run downstairs to the special kids’ space that Joyce created for them. There were puzzles, Lego, toys and, always, books to pique their interest. As much as Joyce loved to read books to them, her grandchildren loved to cuddle up with their grandma as she read aloud.

Joyce enjoyed meeting new people and making friends around Lake Gage and Angola. She and John enjoyed worshiping within the welcoming environment at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, where they were singers in its choir. Joyce became a member at the Frances Elliott Clark Music Club, where she learned to know and performed with other music majors, piano teachers, and musical instrument aficionados.

Joyce was bold and determined when she set goals. Her thoughtful planning surely contributed to her calm demeanor. She endured her many health challenges with courage and optimism. Those who have been blessed to have shared life with her will profoundly miss her and cherish memories of her with gratitude. Her family hopes, with Joyce as an example, we live wisely and wholeheartedly as she did, that the attributes she modeled may be magnified.

A visitation will be held on May 3, 2025, at College Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana from 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. A light lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall followed by a time of informal reminiscing. All are welcome.

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