Born February 3, 1947 in Pekin, she was a daughter of Everett Harry and Margaret Elizabeth (Ehmke) Hill. Her parents preceded her in death.
Surviving are one brother, E. Duane (Barbara) Hill of Pekin and an extended family of cousins, including Jeff (Jennifer) Buchanan of Minnesota, Sue Hill, George Hill and Terry Ziegenbein, all of Pekin.
A 1965 graduate of Pekin Community High School, Joyce then graduated from Bradley University in 1970 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. In 1975 she graduated with her Applied Science Degree in Registered Nursing from Illinois Central College. She received her associate’s degree in general education from I.C.C. and in 1980 earned her Master of Science degree from Illinois State University in School Psychology. She also attended Illinois Wesleyan University and completed studies towards a master’s degree in divinity from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston. Many people would say that Joyce was a professional student!
Joyce enjoyed careers as a registered nurse, a college instructor at Illinois Central College, as a school psychologist and finally as pastor. She worked as a Registered Nurse at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria for 4 years and then worked as a school psychologist for 18 years, with the last four years for Tazewell-Mason Special Education at Schramm Educational Center in Pekin. While health prevented Joyce from finishing her final year at seminary, she felt blessed that her faith grew so much during that time of learning and by serving as a student pastor at Fairview United Methodist Church and Providence Chapel near Canton.
Joyce was devoted to her family and especially appreciated the privilege of caring for her parents, along with her brother, in their later years.
She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 13, 2026 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Judy Steger Kennedy will officiate. Visitation will be one half-hour before the funeral. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
To express condolences online, visit www.Preston-Hanley.com
