Joyce May Tischer

Joyce May Tischer of Breckenridge, MN, passed away on May 13, 2023, at Twin Town Villa in Breckenridge. Visitation will be at Joseph Vertin and Sons in Breckenridge on May 18, 2023, from 5 pm to 7 pm with a prayer service at 7pm. Her funeral will be at Grace Lutheran Church in Breckenridge on May 19, 2023, at 11 am, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Ross Fritz will officiate the service. Interment will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Wahpeton, ND, later in the day. Arrangements have been entrusted to Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home.

Joyce May Sturgess was born the oldest of four children to William John and Dorothy (Leavitt) Sturgess on May 26, 1928. She was baptized on April 30, 1930, at Bethany Methodist Church, Lamars, ND. She attended Greendale Township School. Her education continued at Hankinson High School where she graduated in 1946. She rode the Galloping Goose train to Valley City Teacher’s College where she earned her teacher’s certification. She taught for 2 years in a country school north of Great Bend, ND.

Joyce was confirmed on April 23, 1948 at Great Bend Lutheran Church. She married Reuben Tischer on April 30, 1948, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hankinson, ND. Joyce taught one more year after marrying Reuben.

They farmed for 10 years south of Fairmont, ND. They then moved to Breckenridge where they raised their family of 5 sons. Joyce enjoyed gardening and worked for Emery’s Greenhouse every spring for 34 years. She also worked for the Breckenridge School System as a teacher’s aide and in food service. She and Reuben were chaperones at the Breckenridge Teen Canteen for many years.

After she retired, she continued to work part-time; altering clothing, in-home ironing, cleaning at MinnKota Ag offices and acting as an Election Judge. She also worked as needed at the Greenhouse and the School. She continued working at MinnKota Ag until she entered Twin Town Villa in February 2022. She was very active in her Church, serving in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Secretary for the church council, and many other volunteer committees and activities.

She loved her family very much, including her sons and all of the daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her hobbies included gardening, cleaning, embroidery, reading and quilt making. She was able to travel to England twice (1989 & 2013) and reconnected with her father’s family. She was able to celebrate her 88^th birthday with her English relatives. She was very proud of her English heritage.

Joyce is survived by her sons, Douglas (Kathy Simmons, Moorhead), Ronald (Marilee), Dean (Trudy), and Calvin all of Breckenridge/Wahpeton, and daughter-in-law, Sheri Tischer of Stillwater, MN; 11 grandchildren, Heidi (Dylan) Irish, Jeremy (Karensa) Tischer, Jesse (Maureen) Tischer, Lindsey Tischer (Jesse Nease), Lisa Ehlers (Matt Reeve), Shawn Tischer (Lindsay Case), Travis Tischer, Dylan Tischer, Ethan Tischer, Cameron Tischer & Carmen Tischer; 8 great-grandchildren, Samira Sadat (Zach O’Brien), Jack Sadat, Ariana Sadat, Hayden Tischer, Sydney Tischer, Andrew Tischer, William Tischer, & Vincenzo Nease; and many special nieces and nephews that held a big place in her heart.

She was preceded in death by parents, John and Dorothy Sturgess; her loving husband of 40 years, Reuben; infant daughter, Lois; son, Leon; daughter-in-law, Donna Tischer; sisters, Janice (Dale) Deike, Jean (Bob) Chartrand; and brother, Jack (Donna) Sturgess.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you plant a flower in remembrance of Joyce, donate to the Richland/Wilkin Food Pantry, or any other charity of your choosing.