Our special angel, Joyce Shirley Caroline (Flunker) Ponto age 85 of Weyauwega, Wisconsin, took the hand of Jesus and went to her heavenly home on December 23, 2020 at Bethany Home Inc. in Waupaca.
While she resided there she conquered Covid-19 and pneumonia. She was born on April 15, 1935 in the town of Caledonia, Waupaca County. She was the daughter of the late Ernst and Amalia (Meydam) Flunker. She was baptized on April 23, 1935, and confirmed on June 5, 1949, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fremont. Joyce attended Crystal Fountain public school in Caledonia, WI. She then graduated from Washington high school of New London on May 28, 1953. On June 26, 1954, she was united in marriage to Eldor L. Ponto at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fremont, by Pastor H. Paul Westmeyer, after which, she became a member at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Weyauwega. Eldor and Joyce were married for 58 years. Joyce and Eldor loved going out to eat, traveling to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa to listen to gospel music, and going to polka dances. They are now polka dancing together in heaven. She loved her mother-in-law Mabel like a mother, as her mother died when she was young. Joyce worked for Brasch’s in Fremont for two years and was also employed at Taylor Cheese Corporation. Then she worked as a room one supervisor at Churny Co. in Weyauwega for 39 years and retired on June 24, 1994. She enjoyed working with people and she loved to laugh. Joyce’s faith in the Lord was first and foremost. Joyce was committed to the Lord and loved going to Church and singing her favorite hymns. She would read meditations with God in the evening. One of her favorite Bible verses was: “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Joyce enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. She enjoyed reading, writing, quotes, photography, and poetry just as her mother Amalia did. She called a picture a “biography of a person’s life.” Joyce also loved reading and writing about the history of people’s lives. She called it a mind fixed with ideas on paper. She especially liked scrapbooking and it was her favorite hobby. Things that she scrapbooked were: Horse and Buggy Days, the Weyauwega train derailment, America’s current events, her own life as she saw it, sermons from several pastors at the Church, her children, grandchildren, family, and friends.
Joyce had a special place in her heart for her children and grandchildren as they gave her great joy. Joyce was blessed with a son and a daughter. She is survived by her son Daniel (Wendy) Ponto and daughter Deanne (Rick) Togstad. Joyce was blessed with six grandchildren: Heather, Cole, Lorelei, Emily, Nathan, Tyler, and one great-grandson, Damion; two step-grandchildren, David (Michelle) and Adam Togstad; two great-grandchildren, Mason and Ryker. She is further survived by sisters-in-law: Elsbeth and Elaine Flunker, Linda Ponto; brothers-in-law, Lester (Jean) Ponto, and Gordon Niemuth; many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and friends that she cherished. She is preceded in death by her parents, and brothers: Bernhard (Jean) Flunker, Ernest Flunker, and Kenneth Flunker; sisters: Marcella (Raymond) Westphal, Sarah (Erwin) Pankow, and Margaret (Calvin) Pomerening; brothers-in-law, Alton Ponto and Elmer (Doris) Ponto; sisters-in-law, Arcille Niemuth and infant Vernice.
The Christian Memorial Service for Joyce will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 8, 2021 at St. Peter Ev. Lutheran Church in Weyauwega, with Rev. Aaron Kristopeit officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Weyauwega. A gathering of family and friends will be held at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Peter Lutheran Church or School. Cline-Hanson-Dahlke Funeral & Cremation Services of Weyauwega is assisting the family.
Joyce’s family would like to thank everyone at Bethany home in Waupaca for the special care she received. Thank you for all your prayers.