Joyce Kammerer

1932 - 2016

Joyce Colleen Kammerer

Born: August 4, 1932

Died: June 29, 2016

Joyce Colleen Kammerer, age 83, of McHenry, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at Alden Terrace Nursing Home from complications of Alzheimers Disease.

She was born August 4, 1932 in Des Plaines to Edward and Sylvia (Haas) Magoon. On February 4, 1951, she married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, George Kammerer Jr., at Immanuel Lutheran Church in DesPlaines. Following her marriage, Joyce lived in Des Plaines until becoming a resident of McHenry in 1957. For 28 years, she was employed at Eagle Foods in McHenry.

A large part of Joyce's life was devoted to a passion for dancing with her husband, George. They were Round Dance instructors, teaching ballroom dance and choreographing over 50 dance numbers. During their dance career, they won a bronze medal in international ball room dancing, and were inducted into the Illinois Dance Hall of Fame in 2008 (the first IL couple to be so honored). Throughout their dancing career, they taught dance at 26 national conventions and enjoyed traveling as instructors on 16 cruises, including several cruises to Hawaii. Joyce was a skilled seamstress, with a natural talent for making dozens of professional dance costumes for both herself and many dance students.

A faithful member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Joyce and her husband were one of the ten original families with the church since it opened its doors over 50 years ago. Over the years, Joyce was actively involved with the Sunday School as well as the Altar Guild.

A loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, her family was always her dearest and most important priority in life. Lovingly summed up by George, he reflected "We had a great life together".

In addition to her husband of 65 years, Joyce is survived by five children, Gail Van Kanegan of Rochester, MN, Guy (Kathy) Kammerer of Muskego, WI, Glory (Lee) Romano of Homer Glen, Gregg (Cindy) Kammerer of Crystal Lake, Gerri (Steven) Lunde of McHenry; several grandchildren, Michael (Michelle Merrill) Van Kanegan, Timothy (Natalie) Van Kanegan, Lucas (Michelle) Kammerer, Stacia (Chad) Riffe, Wayne Hitt, Samuel Lunde, Maxwell Lunde; eight great-grandchildren, Indira, Maya, Neela, Emma, Emmit, Wayne, Sarah, Gavin; and two brothers, Patrick (Beth) Magoon, and Edward (Marla) Magoon.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents.

Friends are invited to join her family for a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 3, 2016, at Shepherd of The Hills Lutheran Church, 404 N. Green Street, McHenry, IL 60050.

For those wishing to send an expression of sympathy, her family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer's Association, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Ste. 800, Chicago, IL 60631.

Arrangements were entrusted to Justen Funeral Home & Crematory. For information, please call the funeral hone at 815-385-2400, or visit www.justenfh.com, where friends may leave an on-line condolence message for her family.