Joyce E. Harris (76) of Effingham

Joyce E. Harris, 76, of Effingham, IL, passed away at 1:56 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shumway, IL with the Rev. Christopher Hale officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Shumway. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday prior to the services at the church. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made in loving memory of Joyce to Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, the family, or donor’s choice.

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Joyce was born on March 2, 1940, in Effingham County, IL, the daughter of Ernest and Fern (Correll) Kruger. She graduated from North Clay County Community High School in 1958. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Shumway. She resided in Coal City, IL where she married Roy Merkel. To this union two sons were born, Clinton Lee Merkel and Chris Alan Merkel. Later she married Robert Harris on October 23, 1987, and he preceded her in death on March 11, 2013. They lived at Lake Sara in Effingham where they managed the Ridge Runners Cove Marina on Lake Sara. Joyce was a resident at Lakeland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Effingham.

Joyce is survived by her son, Chris (Donna) Merkel of Janesville; daughter-in-law, Emilie (Monte) Wall of Altamont; granddaughter, Bailee Merkel of Altamont. 2 step-granddaughters, Staci Figgins of Columbus, IN and Lindsey Figgins of Janesville; 5 step-great-grandchildren, Taylor Figgins, Christina Douglas, Jarrett Shellenbarger, Alan Shellenbarger and Clayton Shellenbarger; brother, Wilmer (Carla) Kruger of Dieterich; sister, Beverly Moore of Effingham; sister-in-law, Pat Kruger of Minonk; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert; son, Clinton Merkel; 2 brothers, Duane in infancy and Ronald Kruger; and sister, Kathy Kruger.