Joyce Wiseman

Thelma Joyce Wiseman, known to everyone as Joyce, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2025, at the remarkable age of 97. Born on May 2,1928 in Covington, Kentucky, she was the cherished daughter of John and Anna (Sloan) Blades. Joyce was a woman of deep faith and unwavering dedication, a testament to her upbringing by a father who served as a doctor and a mother who taught in the primary grades of Butler Elementary School.
During her last two years of high school, Joyce lived with her beloved Aunt Thelma Sloan through the week, attending and graduating from Holmes High School in Covington. She traveled home by train to be with her parents on the weekends. She developed her love for medicine by driving her father to the homes of his patients while making house calls. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from the University of Kentucky. Her first job as a medical professional began at Holzer Hospital in Gallipolis, Ohio. While there, she met her future husband, Joe Wiseman. He was a patient and she came into his room to draw blood. The two were united in marriage on December 19, 1953 and remained together until Joe's death in 1995.
The couple made their first home in Wilmington, where Joyce worked for Dr. Lipert in his private practice and Joe taught school. Three years later, Joe accepted a teaching position in the Harrison area where they built their first and only home. Joyce worked until her retirement for doctors Cooke, Bauman and Morris.
Joyce enjoyed bowling, playing bridge and traveling with family, church friends and Glenna Webb, a friend from her Wilmington days. In her retirement years, she loved vacationing with her children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. An active member of the Miami Whitewater Community Church, she dedicated her time to serving others, helping with the church's food pantry, and being involved in many roles in the women's group. She made peanut brittle that was sold at the Christmas bazaar every year and made chicken salad for many church functions.
Joyce's legacy lives on through her three sons: Charles "Mark" (Bobbi), Jeff (Barbara), and David (Dorothy) Wiseman; her beloved grandchildren Kelsey (Adam) Steveley, Allison (Treavor) Dodsworth, Daniel Wiseman, Christopher Wiseman and fiancee Laura Beth Barker, Catherine Wiseman, Charlie Wiseman and fiancee Maria Lowden, John Wiseman, Joe (Anna) Wiseman, Jeff (Megan) Wiseman, and Becca (Alex) Eggleston; her cherished great-grandchildren Sadie, Caroline, Annie, Jack, Wesley, Rachel, Caleb, August, Ophelia, Magnolia, William, Gianna and the late Audrey. She is also remembered by her sisters-in-law Phyllis Wiseman, Margaret Ashworth, Sue Ruff and Mary Keys, brother-in-law Richard Wesney and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joyce was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe, her parents, her brother, Hendon Blades and sister, Adrian Stith, her Aunt Thelma, sister-in-law Helen Wesney, brothers-in-law Stan Ashworth, Bob Ruff and Tom Keys.
Visitation will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025, at the Miami Whitewater Community Church, located at 9700 Dry Fork Rd, Harrison, from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. Immediately following the service burial will take place at Glen Haven Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joyce's honor to the Miami Whitewater Community church food bank.
Joyce will be deeply missed but fondly remembered for her kindness, strength and love for her family and community. May her spirit continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joyce Wiseman, please visit our floral store.