Joyce Lorene Eicher Inniger

Joyce Lorene Eicher Inniger was born to Frank and Hannah Gearig Eicher on April 23, 1929, near Ithaca, Michigan.  She peacefully passed away at Covenant Health Care, Saginaw, Michigan, on January 5, 2014, reaching the age of eighty-four years.

Joyce spent her entire life as a resident of Gratiot County, Michigan.  On February 20, 1945, she was baptized, along with her younger sister, Neva, by Minister Harry Wenger into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.  She loved the faith and enjoyed attending church as long as her health permitted.

She devoted her life to nursing, first in the hospital and later in a doctor's office where she made many lasting friendships.  She rarely went to town without meeting a former patient and catching up on their life.  Her years of working in the maternity ward gave her a special love for babies, and it always thrilled her to hear of a new baby in the family or congregation.

She married David Inniger on August 16, 1981, gladly gave up her career, and was content to make a happy home for him.  She readily accepted his family and truly loved the role of “grandma.”  We had many good times together and she will be missed.  It broke her heart when Dad passed away on April 5, 1997, after nearly eighteen wonderfully happy years of marriage.

She dearly loved her family.  Visits and phone calls from them made her day.  She was a wonderful cook and one of her delights was to invite friends and family for Sunday dinner.  She loved to share baked goods with her neighbors.  Singing was an important part of her life.  A perfect evening for her was having a group come sing at her house.

Even though arthritis and other health issues of aging were taking their toll, Joyce remained enthused with life and submitted to open heart surgery nearly three weeks ago, hoping it would give her a little more time.  This was not to be, and she never left the hospital.

Those left to cherish her memory are: three sisters, Neva and Leroy Koehn, El Campo, Texas; Shirley, Janice and Lee Koehn, all of Faunsdale, Alabama; one brother, Verle of Bradley, Arkansas; one step-son, William and Debra Inniger, Perrinton, Michigan; one step-son-in-law, Leon and Carol Beachy, Versailles, Missouri; seven grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews who were very dear to her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one older sister who died at birth, and one sister-in-law.