Joyce Manthe

Joyce Manthe, 79, of Viola, Illinois died Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at Mercer Manor, Aledo.

A private service will be held with burial in Viola Cemetery.  Those attending are asked to please dress casual.  Dennison Funeral Home, Viola assisted the family.

Joyce was born July 30, 1943 in Galesburg, Illinois the daughter of Howard and Blanche Shroyer Yerkey.  The 1961 graduate of Winola High School went on to work at Maytag for 30 years.  She had married Sam Whitenack, they later divorced.  On November 23, 1982, she married David Allen Manthe in Henderson Grove, Illinois.  They were married until he passed on February 1, 2016.  She enjoyed the outdoors and being on the farm.  Joyce loved all animals, especially horses.  At the age of 14 she broke the precedent as being the only girl entry in the New Windsor Junior Rodeo… she came away the winner, besting 19 boys. She spent the rest of her life breaking and training horses, as well as starting a horse club and hosting trail rides.  

Those left to cherish her memory are her children:  Erin Miller of Aledo and Eric (Alysha) Yerkey of Abingdon; step-children:  Scott (Eva White) Manthe of Kokomo, Indiana and Kimberly (David) Smith of Silvis; 9 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren and siblings:  Bobby (Cheryl) Yerkey of Alexis and Karen Riddell of New Windsor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband: David, brothers:  Ronald and Larry Yerkey, and granddaughter:  RaiAnn.

Online condolences may be left at www.dennisonfuneralhome.com.