Joyce Pauline Gerber

Joyce Pauline Gerber of Dalton, Ohio, passed away suddenly on November 15, 2025, following a period of declining health. Joyce was born on January 15, 1937 to the late Iris Pauline (McIlvaine) and William Walter Bell. Her childhood was shaped by her father's military service, and she grew up in many places, attending 11 different schools along the way. Around age15 her family moved to the Fort Lewis Military Base near Tacoma Washington where she graduated from Clover Park High School in 1955. Upon graduation she traveled across the country to live with her Grandma Mack in Wooster Ohio. Joyce's deep love for plants and gardening began in childhood, thanks to her Grandma Mack, who was well-known for her vibrant "gladiolas patch." Those early days spent alongside her grandmother planted a passion that stayed with her throughout her life. While attending Christian Endeavors activities she was admired by the love of her life but she was involved with someone else at the time. But on December 18, 1956, Caleb and Joyce had their first date and never looked back. Her father was stationed with the Army in Germany and she was planning to join her family but love came quickly and in the next two weeks they planned their life together. 4 months later they got married on a Saturday evening on May 11, 1957 and started a love story that never ended. Two days later they left for Tucson, Arizona, and after some time, Caleb longed to return to Ohio to try his hand at dairy farming. Joyce agreed even though she did not know the first thing about farming. They packed up all their belongings in their station wagon and started a new adventure that would consume them the rest of their lives. They eventually moved from their first farm in Smithville to a farm near Dalton, the place they would call home for 40 years. Joyce was an active partner in the farm, and their life together was rich with 4-H involvement, church activities, hosting family and friends, and serving in other volunteer activities.
When they became empty nesters Joyce at the age of 50 returned back to school and started working as an Executive Assistant for the OSU Extension Agency where she worked until retirement. During these years, Caleb faced many health problems, but despite the difficulties, they built a new home two miles west of the farm on a peaceful, wooded lot. After moving in in 2004, they found themselves surrounded by the most wonderful neighbors they could ever have hoped for. In 2008, Joyce lost her best friend and loving husband of 50 years. This was an extremely difficult time of grieving, but in the fall of 2010, she took volunteer education classes to assist with hospice bereavement services. She eventually facilitated a widows' support group, where she offered compassion, understanding, and comfort to others walking the same difficult path.
Joyce returned to her wanderlust of travel and took many trips with her daughter's family where she took on role of roommate with her youngest Grandson, Ayden. They had many adventures in Alaska, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Northern Italy, Switzerland, the Caribbean, Florida, Gatlinburg, Door County and more. She adventured solo to New England, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Arizonia, Norway and did several European River Cruises. Her love of plants leads her to participating in the Herb Society of Wooster where she found enjoyment in their activities. Gardening was her escape and she could get anything to bloom and grow. She not only loved plants but also enjoyed watching birds and appreciating the changing seasons. Those who knew her well understood that she was a complex thinker, a voracious reader, and an insightful critic of movies.
Joyce is survived by her son Mark Gerber (Tonya) of Wooster OH, daughter Julie Gerber Lear (Tobin) of Morton Grove, IL; Grandchildren, Jessica Mills-Gerber (Chelsea), Jackson Gerber and Ayden Lear. She also leaves behind her brother-in-law, Virgil Gerber of Urbana OH, her loving niece, Portia Wilson of Wooster OH, and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband Caleb J Gerber, their beloved son Timothy Neal Gerber, sister Florence Craven and brother William "Billy" Bell.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on December 20th at Salem Mennonite Church, 3363 Zuercher Road, Dalton, OH at 2:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Ohio's Hospice Foundation, https://www.ohioshospice.org/give/.