Joyce A. (German) Endris Obituary (1926 - 2016)

Joyce A. (German) Endris died peacefully at age 89 in Lone Tree, Iowa on August 2, 2016. Born on November 25, 1926, she was the daughter of Leo C. German and Sara (Moore) German of Pana, IL. Joyce graduated from Pana High School, IL after three years and began work at the Sangamon Ordnance Plant at Illiopolis, IL as part of the WWII armament program. Following WWII she married Leroy B. Endris of Pana on July 28, 1947 and co-managed a nearby dairy farm until 1961. During that time she was active in the Christian County Home Bureau, now the Christian County Home and Community Education Association, and excelled at gardening and pinochle. In 1961 her family relocated to the Doris Duke Estate in Somerville, NJ where her husband was farm manager. She then held several administrative posts including tour coordinator at the Duke Gardens before joining the Hunterdon Medical Center, Mental Health Service in 1969 where she was employed for 20 years and for many years was a volunteer on the Suicide Prevention Hot Line. Known as a kind and generous spirit she arranged to host an inner city child from the New York City Fresh Air Fund to spend summers on the Duke estate with her family. Her table always had space for the frequent friends and guests. Joyce highly valued education and community service as shown by her passionate support of her childrens participation in 4-H, scouting and their college educations. Endowed with a sense of adventure she participated in the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City as a volunteer clown. After returning to Pana, IL in 1989 she served as an election poll worker and was an active volunteer for many years with Meals on Wheels and the Pana Community Hospital Auxiliary both in the reception and gift shop and coordinating fund-raising sales. She moved to Lone Tree, Iowa in 2014 to be near her son Bruce and his family. She is predeceased by her husband, Leroy B. Endris, and brother, William R. German (St. Louis, MO). She is survived by four children; Richard G. Endris (Bridgewater, NJ), Bruce P. Endris (Hills, Iowa), Michael L. Endris (San Jose, California), Christine A. Endris (Zyla) (Lebanon, NJ), seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Joyce was baptized and confirmed in the First United Presbyterian Church in Pana where she taught Sunday school until she converted to Catholicism upon her marriage to Mr. Endris. After returning to Pana she was a member of St. Patricks Catholic Church and St. Marys Circle and served as the driver for her many friends. She was an avid life-long gardener and loved all things botanical. An animal lover, cats, dogs and others who were in need of a home found one with her. She believed in service to her fellow man and inspired others by her example. She was loved by her family and friends and will be dearly missed. Funeral Information There will be no visitation. Memorial mass will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Patricks Catholic Church, Pana with Rev. Rodney A. Schwartz officiating. Inurnment will be in Rosemond Grove Cemetery, Rosamond. Mass Servers: Zach Maton, Sydney Maton, Colin Schmitz. Music: Jane McMillen & St. Pat's Choir. Urn Bearers: Richard Endris, Bruce Endris, Mike Endris, Christine Endris.