Joyce Ann Keffer

Joyce "Tootie" Ann Keffer (née Wise), age 88, of Walker, Minnesota, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, January 11, 2026, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Joyce was born on September 2, 1937, in Kouts, Indiana, to Marion Henry and Emma Gertrude (Dilley) Wise. She was the third of five children. She was a 1955 graduate of Hebron High School. On September 1, 1956, she married the love of her life, William "Bill" Vinson Keffer. Together, they shared 58 years of marriage until Bill's passing in 2015.
Joyce retired in 1999 from First Merchants Bank in Lapel, Indiana. Over the years, she also worked as a bookkeeper for Maxwell's Auto Trim Shop in Anderson, Indiana; a manager of the Dairy Bar in Lapel, Indiana; and a cashier at Yancey's Market in Lapel, Indiana.
She was a devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her greatest joy was from caring for her family and creating a warm, welcoming home where everyone felt loved. Some of her favorite activities included gardening, jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, genealogy, reading, cooking, fishing vacations in Minnesota, family get-togethers, visiting friends and neighbors, playing Euchre, watching basketball and football, and being a member of the American Legion Post 212 Auxiliary in Lapel, Indiana.
Joyce is survived by her three daughters: Deanna (Brent) Beach of Walker, Minnesota; Amy (Paul) Winks of Lafayette, Indiana; and Betsy (Aaron) Hampton of Fishers, Indiana; as well as her bonus sister, P. J. Armstrong of Lapel, Indiana.
She was a proud and loving grandmother to 10 grandchildren: William Beach, Matthew (Allison) Beach, Patrick (Anora) Beach, and Kathryn (Joe) Paquin, John (Amanda) Winks, Libby (Blake) Cain, Barry (Anna) Winks, Aubree "Lawrence" Cameron, Spencer (Colleen)
Hampton, and Cassidy (Drew) Hampton; and a cherished great-grandmother to 18 great-grandchildren who brightened her later years: Adley Beach, Eleanor Beach, Isla Beach, Oaks Beach, Dayana (Tyler) Martinez, Azure Beach, Nicholas Billman, Tyler Karvonen, Adilynn Paquin, Max Livengood, Liam Parker-Winks, Blane Morris, Lukas Thomas, Isaac Cain, Becca Cain, Oliver Winks, Charlotte Hampton and Brantley Hampton.
Joyce was blessed not only with a loving immediate family, but also many nephews, nieces, cousins, and countless friends who filled her life with laughter and happiness.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; father, Marion Wise; mother, Gertrude Walker; stepfather, Haldon Walker; brothers: Tom Wise & Phillip "Shorty" Wise; sisters: Marilynn Smith, Donna Sue Steinhilber; and step-sister: Juanita Banner.
A celebration of life will be held in the summer and announced when scheduled. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be given in Joyce's name to your local food pantry or library.