Joyce Ann (Sipple) Fergus (83) of Sanford, FL, formerly of Effingham
Published on January 15 2025 4:16 pm
Joyce Ann (Sipple) Fergus, 83, of Sanford FL, formerly of Effingham, IL passed peacefully on Sunday, January 5, 2025, into God’s arms after a courageous battle with Anaplastic Metastatic Thyroid Cancer.
Born on February 17, 1941, in Nicolet National Forest at Ovitz Hospital, Laona, WI, Joyce's life was a testament to faith, family, friends, and unwavering enthusiasm for life’s adventures.
She was raised in the Methodist church. Joyce was a member of the Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church. She was admired for her leadership and cherished for her kind and generous spirit. A proud graduate of Oshkosh High School (Class of 1959) and Madison Business College, Joyce continued her studies at the University of Wisconsin. She was a member of FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and a lifetime member of ESA (Epsilon Sigma Alpha) embodying leadership, friendships, and camaraderie. Joyce was employed at Truax Air Force Base, Madison, WI where she was crowned Miss 327th Fighter Group Queen, Alias Miss Wisconsin. Joyce married Fred W. Fergus, the love of her life, on August 8, 1964, at the First Christian Church in Madison, WI. Together, they shared 59 wonderful years of marriage, dating on Friday nights, embracing shared passions, and cheering on their sons in sports. Their marriage was based on God’s love and faith. She devoted her career to the family business, Arab Termite & Pest Control. In addition, Joyce’s leadership contributions to her community were many, including memberships in the Arab Lady Bugs, American Legion Auxiliary Post 70, Zonta Club, Sunrise Rotary (Paul Harris Fellow) Effingham, IL, VFW Auxiliary Post 8093, BPW, Zonta Club, Lifetime member of VFW Auxiliary Post 8093, DeBary, FL, and American Legion Auxiliary Post 70, Oshkosh, WI. Joyce spent many years as a Corvette enthusiast and Coles County Illinois Corvette Club member. She was an avid Green Bay Packers stockholder, a St.Louis Cardinals, and a Milwaukee Brewers fan. Joyce loved music and dancing. She was her husband’s biggest Karaoke fan. A member of the Ice Skating Institute, Joyce was a talented ice skater who performed at the University of Illinois ice shows with her niece, Ann. After her devoted career, Joyce retired to Florida in 2004. In her retirement, she enjoyed Florida’s sunshine, Jazzercise, Simply Eloquent Ladies (Red Hat Group), the Lake Mary Jazz/Coffee Gals, and the IHOP coffee group. Above all, Joyce will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, wonderful sister, aunt, cousin, and steadfast friend whose warmth, laughter, and love left an indelible mark on all who knew her. She supported the military with her father, husband, and sister’s years of service. She loved her family time filled with lots of shopping and lunches. Rest in peace, Joyce. Your legacy of love, your heart of gold, giving, thoughtfulness, zest for life, and joy will live on forever.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Ann (Gretzinger) Sipple, her husband Fred W. Fergus, and her son Carl D. Fergus II, along with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Joyce is survived by her son, Fred II; Daughter n Law Sarah Fergus, grandchildren Jared (Heather) Smith and great-grandchildren: Jaxon, Addi, and Evelyn; Kurtis (Tiffany) Dykes and great-grandchildren: Nora & Macy Jo, Jordyn & Wyatt; sister Janice (Tony) Hiers, niece Robin Hiers and nephew Scott Hiers; brother-in-law Bob (Debbie) Fergus, Aunt Dorothy Wade, Aunt Marcella Gretizinger; nephews Greg, Peyton, and Emma Fergus; Bryan Fergus and family; Josh Fergus and family; nieces Jeni (Tom) Stafford, Andrew, Lauren, and Alex; Ann (Shua), Payne, and Harry Gambill.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the many family and friends for all their love, prayers, and support. A special thank you to her Son Fred II who lovingly cared for his Mom, the Jazz/ Coffee Gals, Simply Eloquent Ladies (Red Hat Group), medical staff at Altamonte Springs Hospital and Orlando Advent Hospital, Nurse Betty and staff at Aspire Rosewood Rehab Center, Drivers/friends Steve MacWilliams, Donna Goodman, Jane Denton, Queen Janie Schrialdi, Joyce Ann Maggie Heine & Paul Watson, and Oshkosh High School friends.
The Memorial Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 419 South Park Ave, Sanford, FL, on Sunday, March 16th, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Banfield Funeral Home & Crematory, Winter Springs, FL, handled the cremation.