Joy M. Wiedenhoeft

Joy M. Wiedenhoeft, 89, passed away in Rockford, Illinois on December 31, 2025. Born in Osseo, Wisconsin on April 18, 1936, Joy’s journey began after graduating Whitewater High in the small town of Whitewater Wisconsin. This laid the foundation for her warm and compassionate character. She would go on to meet Wayne Wiedenhoeft, at the local pub after a night of dancing and they would go on to be married on September 28, 1957. While she did not wear a uniform, her resilience shone brightly as she supported her husband’s military career, helping to keep their growing family grounded as they moved across the United States and even to far-off places like Germany and England. After her husband’s retirement in 1972, they moved for the last time to Rockford, Illinois. Not long after, Joy became a devoted member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and cherished the time she spent cultivating her faith and community. For more than twelve years, she dedicated her time to the church library, fostering a love of reading to children by sharing stories during Bible school. She thoroughly enjoyed sewing outfits for her children growing up, so she found renewed purpose and camaraderie in the sewing circle and spent many happy hours in the church kitchen, using her wonderful cooking and baking skills for congregational events. In 1981, with a brave heart, she stepped into the workforce for Eclipse Inc., where she diligently employed her skills in data entry, amongst many other roles, for over twelve years until retirement. However, her primary vocation was found in the sacred realm of homemaking, where she flourished as a wife, mother and grandmother. In the family residence, she admired her ever growing bell collection, her collection of spoons from all of the places they lived and traveled, lovingly making the house into a home.

She will be missed by those who loved her most, her husband of 68 years, Wayne; their children Bruce and Dawn (Andy) Friedl; grandchildren Christopher and Casey Wiedenhoeft, as well as Hans (Kayle Schoville) and Anna Friedl; sister Ellen (Paul) Eichmiller, brother Gaylen (Patricia) Steig, sister-in-law Dixie Dawson, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents Chester Steig and Irene (John) Stout, as well as two brothers Gordon and Ken Steig.

Cremation rites were accorded to Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, and services will be private to the family. Please consider memorials to be made to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3301 Corbridge Ln, Rockford, IL 61107. To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com