Joyce Leona Bannick

Joyce Leona Bannick of Elkton, age 97, peacefully passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, while at Covenant Hospital. She was born on April 9, 1929, in Pigeon, the daughter of the late Victor and Ida (Fischer) Hoppe. She attended Pigeon High School and graduated with the Class of 1947.

After high school, Joyce worked at Wallace & Morley Company for thirteen years before starting her family and embracing life as a homemaker. After a time, she returned to the workforce at People’s Choice Market and Shell Gas Station in Pigeon, where she spent ten years getting to know and serve members of her community from behind the counter.

Joyce was a woman of strong faith in the Lord and a proud lifelong member of St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church–Berne. On October 24, 1959, she married the love of her life, Henry “Jim” Bannick. They enjoyed nine years together until his passing on August 6, 1968. She was a supportive member of the Women’s Auxiliary of Pigeon.

Joyce was known for her love of reading a good romance novel and past time doing this often. She was a remarkable seamstress and found great joy in sewing clothes for her children, from everyday wear to their Halloween costumes. At times, she also dabbled in crocheting and knitting. Her children fondly remember coming home from school each day to their mother and the comforting smell of homemade bread greeting them as they entered the home.

Left to cherish Joyce’s memory are her children, Susan Bannick, Steven Bannick, and Stacey & Ed Deming; grandchildren, Maggie Deming and Anthony Deming; three great-grandchildren and one on the way! In addition to her parents and husband, Joyce was preceded in death by her brother, Loren Hoppe; and sister, Shirley (Hoppe) McComb.

Funeral services for Joyce will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church-Berne with Pastor Steve Neuman officiating. The family will be present to receive visitors from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Joyce will then be laid to rest at the Caseville Township Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contributions to St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church- Berne or to the Wishes of the Family, c/o Susan Bannick.