Written mainly by Joyce herself...

Joyce A. Hacker, 74, of rural Markle, passed away Saturday evening, Feb. 29, 2020, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Joyce was born November 4, 1945, to James and Rhea (Hileman) Kirby, in Wabash. Indiana, at Wabash County Hospital.  They lived with Frank and Mary Kirby on Millcreek Pike, Noble Township, for three years.  Then they moved on U.S. 24 until she started grade school at Linlawn on Millcreek Pike, just west of Pike Street.  Then they moved on a back road off Millcreek Pike, then moved on Millcreek Pike and lived there until she married.

Joyce attended Linlawn Grade School, first through sixth grade, Noble High School, seventh through eleventh grade, then senior year at Southwood High School.  The schools in Wabash County, Indiana, consolidated in 1962, and she graduated in May of 1963.  While in school she was in the band, playing the clarinet, pep club, and typed the school newspaper senior year.

Joyce was in 4-H for nine years and chose not to finish the tenth year because she was working and didn't think she had time to do the projects.  She belonged to the Richvalley 4-H Club, Wabash County.

Joyce worked at the Richvalley Elevator in Richvalley, Inidana, Wabash County, in June 1963 to mid-April 1965.  She worked in the office doing their bookkeeping, waited on customers, and weighed grain trucks and tractors.

On April 25, 1965, Joyce married John Wells Hacker, of Lafontaine, Indiana, Wabash County.  They were married in the Richvalley EUB Church, Richvalley, Indiana.  From this union three sons were born.  John Wells Hacker Jr., January 30, 1966, Jeffrey Allen Hacker, May 18, 1967, and Jamie Lee Hacker, born December 16, 1970.  Seven grandchildren, (John and Brenda, divorced), Gabriel Evan, April 9, 2000, and Rachel Elizabeth, September 9, 2001; (Jeff and Cari), Todd Allen, July 25, 1996, Charles Lee, January 1, 2000, and Lily Marie, October 18, 2002; (Jamie and Jeannie, divorced), Danielle Ashlie, April 26, 1995, and Markus Paul, May 5, 1997.  They took care of Danielle and Markus for nine years for Jamie.  And she was blessed with one great-granddaughter, (daughter of Danielle Hacker and Randy Coleman), Marlee Ruth Anne, January 8, 2019.

Joyce became a 4-H leader, 1979 – 1989.  The club was the "Rockcreek Happy Hearts" of Wells County, Indiana.  She won outstanding leader in 1982.  She served as President of 4-H leaders organization for one year, and even got to go to Washington D.C. to represent 4-H of Wells County.  She served on several committees and helped out on setting up buildings on judging day, and also helped out the judges.  She also worked on the 4-H Association organization.

Joyce sold Avon for a while, then in 1989, she worked at Ames Variety Store in Bluffton, Indiana.  She worked there for a year and a half as a salesclerk, department head of domestics, and ran a cash register.  Then in 1993, she went to work for Pamida Variety Store.  There she served as head of the domestic department, jewelry department, and shoes and kitchen ware.  She also ran a cash register and worked the service desk.  She then transferred to the cash office and also ran the office when the other clerk left.  The store closed in April of 2000.

Joyce belonged to the Better Homes Extension Homemaker Club.  While in it she held the office of President for four years.  She dropped out while she worked then joined the Our Day Out Club in 2005, where she served as President for four years and Secretary for two years.  She also served as Vice President in the County for three years, then in 2017-2018, she was the President of the County Extension Homemaker's Organization.  She attended Homemaker's camp in August for several years and thoroughly enjoyed it.  She attended Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, in June of 2017.

Joyce helped at the Bluffton Street Fair five or six years, setting up the exhibition hall and with judging.  She was a volunteer at the Wells County Health Association from 2011-2012.  She helped at the Wheels of Yesteryear tractor club, taking money for the breakfast.

She collected carousel music boxes (San Francisco) and had several carousels that were not musical, and she collected bells and windchimes.

She liked listening to country music, rock-n-roll, and other kinds of music as well.  She enjoyed playing her Yamaha keyboard, but didn't take time to do it often.

She did a lot of camping over the years and enjoyed being with friends, sitting around the campfire, cooking over an open fire, and just listening to nature.

Joyce had a lot of hobbies: crocheting, having made a lot of afghans, knitting, cross-stitching, reading, and sewing.  She enjoyed doing puzzles, especially 300 and 500 pieces.  She made several baskets (Baskets Weavers Exhibition at CAC Gallery, Bluffton, Indiana).  A reception was held June 12, 2005, from 2 until 4 PM to meet the artist.

Starting in 1984, Joyce enjoyed time with friends snowmobiling in the U.P. of Michigan.  She rode mostly Skidoo sleds but did have a Yamaha for a while.  John and Joyce enjoyed snowmobiling with their friends, Arno and Cookie Sonnenberg, Bill and Susan Price, Mike and Donna Geisman, Ralph and Phylian Keefer, and Larry and Julie Lickey.

May 17, 2018, Joyce was chosen and awarded "2018 Homemaker of the Year".  She received a very nice plaque from the Extension Homemaker Organization of Wells County.  She was not there that night, do to Markus' graduation from Navy Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Illinois.  The award was still appreciated by her.  The ODO Club got together at Pizza Hut in Bluffton on May 23 and told her and gave her the gifts and plaque.  It was nice for Joyce to have shared that with them.  It was a shock for Joyce as she never thought she would ever receive such an honor.  She received many congratulations.

In addition to her husband, Joyce is survived by three sons, John Hacker Jr. of Fort Wayne, Jeff (Cari) Hacker of Ossian, and Jamie Hacker of Ossian; seven grandchildren, Gabriel and Rachel Hacker, Todd, Charlie, and Lily Hacker, and Danielle and Markus Hacker; a great-granddaughter, Marlee Coleman; two  brothers, Richard "Dick" (Pat) Kirby of Wabash, and Myrl (Cathy) Suddarth; three sisters, Deloris Suddarth, Beverly Suddarth, and Julie (Phil) Good; and a sister-in-law, Diane Kirby of Wabash.

Aside from her parents, Joyce was preceded in death by a brother, James "Jimmy" Kirby Jr.

Visitation will be Thursday, Mar. 5, 2020, from 3:00 until 8:00 PM, at Goodwin – Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.  Services will be Friday, Mar. 6 ^th , at 10:00 AM, at the funeral home, with one hour of visitation prior to the service at the funeral home.  Pastor Lyle Ewing will officiate.  Burial will follow at Mossburg Cemetery in Wells County.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wells County 4-H Association.