Joyce E. (Nimtz) Rerick

Joyce Edith (Nimtz) Rerick, 97, passed away peacefully into eternal life with Jesus on the evening of Thursday, September 26, 2024, surrounded by her family and friends at Southfield Village of South Bend.

Joyce was born the oldest of three children to the late Charles Otto and Bernice (Morse) Nimtz, on June 29, 1927, in South Bend, Indiana.  Her parents moved to Illinois when she was 2 years old, where she grew up and graduated high school in 1945.   She went on to graduate, from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, in 1947, majoring in business and bookkeeping and minoring in music.  In 1948, her family moved back to South Bend, where she met the love of her life Arthur C. Rerick, Jr..  They were married on October 1, 1949 and shared 58 wonderful years together until his passing on March 27, 2008.  

Joyce had a long musical career that started with piano lessons at the age of 6.  Her parents were musically talented and passed that on to Joyce.  In school and in church, she was always involved with singing in glee clubs and the choir.  She started organ lessons at church, playing a small pipe organ in the chapel for Sunday School. She then went on to being a substitute organist for services at many churches in the South Bend area, also for weddings and funerals.  Her heart was at Epworth United Methodist Church, where she was the organist for 67 years among other duties such as decorating the church for all seasons every year.  She called the church her “home away from home!”   Joyce’s moto was faith, family and church.

Joyce had many hobbies in addition to being a loving homemaker and to her music career.  She loved nature and wildlife. She created a beautiful habitat for birds and enjoyed working in her garden.   She liked collecting Harbour Lights lighthouses, teddy bears, glass paperweights, antiques and family heirlooms.  She also liked to keep her mind sharp by challenging herself to crosswords, jigsaw and pencil puzzles.

 Joyce is survived by her children, Judith L. (Stephan) Johnson, Joseph A. Rerick, and Jonathan E. (Tara) Rerick and by her daughter-in-law, Dianne Rerick.  She was the loving grandmother of nine, great-grandmother of sixteen, and a great-great-grandmother of one. 

Along with her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Paul A. Rerick, her grandson, Nathan Rerick, her sister, Shirley N. Vincent, her brother, Richard Alan Nimtz, and by a daughter-in-law, Diane Rerick.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the long-term care staff at Southfield Village for taking amazing care of Joyce.

Joyce’s family is following her wishes to be cremated.  There will be a celebration of Joyce’s life at 3:00 p.m., on November 16, 2024, in the chapel at Southfield Village, Inc, 6450 Miami Cir, South Bend, IN 46614 with Pat Frazier officiating.  She will be laid to rest next to Arthur in Sumption Prairie Cemetery at a later date.

The HANLEY and Sons Funeral Home “Southwest Chapel” and Cremation Service is handling arrangements and extends our deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers to all of Joyce’s family and friends.

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