Joyce E. O’Hearn
Joyce E. O’Hearn, 82, of Fond du Lac, died Sunday,
June 29, 2014, at home.
She was born on August 22,
1931, in Van Dyne, a daughter to Ervin W. and Erna I. Bearwald Babler.
While growing up, she
attended a one room schoolhouse, leaving school after eighth grade to
work. Joyce owned and operated many
businesses with her husband, Tom, which included a tavern/grocery store/dance
hall in Van Dyne, a small restaurant in Waupun, and many taverns in Fond du Lac. She could also be seen many summer days in Fond du Lac selling sweet
corn, where she greeted many friends.
Mom gave so generously of
herself. She was the most unselfish
person we knew. So many times it was
expressed to us what a wonderful woman she was.
At Christmastime, Mom was
known for baking and decorating dozens and dozens of cut-out Christmas cookies
for us, our families and her friends.
Her tastes in life were very
simple. She enjoyed her flower gardens,
sitting by the window listening to the birds that visited her backyard, and
spending evenings cracking trillions of hickory nuts.
She was a very loved lady,
especially loved by her grandchildren who cherished holidays at Grandma’s.
Although she was a devote
member of her Lutheran church, she, remarkably, helped raise us all in our
Catholic faith.
Her heart was soft and
sentimental but her spirit was courageous and strong.
She was not one for fuss or
attention, so, on Sunday afternoon, while resting near her window with the
birds singing her their songs, she simply, softly, slipped away.
What will we ever do without
her?
Joyce is survived by her
children: Patricia O’Hearn, Bonnie
(Terry) Harmer, Dan (Colleen) O’Hearn, Mary Jo (Don) Berndt, and Tommy O’Hearn;
grandchildren: Erin (Steve) Langolf,
Scott Kahelski, Shannon (Keith) Scanlan, Kevin Harmer, Casey Harmer, Shaun (Carie)
O’Hearn, Keegan (Sarah) O’Hearn, Riley (Katie) O’Hearn, and Mitchell O’Hearn
Riemersma; great-grandchildren: Sullivan and Mackenzie Langolf, Dylan
Scanlan, Jackson O’Hearn, Tyler and Mekhi Porter; and all the other children
that blessed her life as she did theirs, Bryce, Hope, Anna, and Sage; a
brother, Clifford (Rose) Babler, and a sister, Donna (Rex) Reitz. She is further survived by a sister-in-law
and dear friend, Beaty (Ernie) Nelson and brother-in-law, Al Habel, and nieces,
nephews, loving neighbors and friends.
She was preceded in death by
her parents; her husband, Tom; children:
Dennis, Shannon, Jimmy, Rosie, Janie, and Patrick O’Hearn; and her
husband’s sister, Kate Habel.
The funeral service will be
at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, 2014, at St. Peter’s Ev. Lutheran Church,
1600 South Main Street,
Fond du Lac, with Rev. Matthew
Guse officiating.
The visitation will be on
Saturday at church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Woodhull Cemetery.
Mach Funeral Chapel &
Crematory is serving the family, www.machfuneralchapel.com.