Joyce Ellen Graber

Joyce E. Graber, 94, died September 11 in Goshen Indiana where she had been living for the past six years.

She was born in Sterling, Illinois to Reuel and Ida (Conrad) Long on January 1, 1929, the first baby to be born that year in Whiteside County.

She graduated from Sterling High School and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from LaJunta Mennonite Nursing School, Colorado and Goshen College in 1951.

In 1952 she married her college sweetheart, Elwood Graber, and moved to Stryker, Ohio where together they farmed the family farm for 40 years.

All the years on the farm she had a large garden and enjoyed preserving every kind of vegetable and fruit for her family.

When her youngest child started school, she returned to her nursing career, working first at Williams County General Hospital and then Bryan Hospital in the Obstetrics Department until her retirement. She helped deliver many babies during those years and enjoyed working with her nursing colleagues who became life-long friends.

Her faith and church were central to her life. She was a longtime member of Lockport Mennonite Church, Stryker, Ohio where she taught Sunday School, participated in the choir, and was instrumental in beginning an ecumenical women’s Bible study that continues to this day.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elwood, and brother Daryl Long.

She is survived by her seven children: Julia (Larry) Gautsche, Jane (Tim) Short, Marilyn (Pete Miller) Graber all of Goshen; Doug (Dawn) Graber, Sarasota, Florida; Dawn (Anne Schmauss) Graber, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Joe (Karen) Graber, Stryker, Ohio; and Dan (Micky) Graber, Alabaster, Alabama.

She is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Donna and Eugene Diller, Hesston, Kansas.

We her children will remember mother as a delightful story-teller, a faithful prayer warrior, and lovingly attentive to her grand and great-grandchildren. She was a joy-filled, strong woman with a ready smile and warm laugh. Her faith in God was exemplified through her care for family, friends and neighbors. She was a mentor to many and accepting of all.

There will be a visitation at Lockport Mennonite Church from 6-8 pm on Oct 13 and a memorial service also at Lockport on Oct 14 at 11 am. Memorial contributions may be given to the Goshen College Nursing Program or Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

Online condolences may be shared at www.shortfuneralhome.com