Joyce Kathleen Dittmer, 80, of Crawfordsville passed away April 28, 2026.
Joyce was the daughter of a watermelon farmer, born on Feb. 12, 1946, in Beardstown, Illinois, to Philip and Dollie Krohe. She graduated from Beardstown High School in 1964 and attended Olivet Nazarene University before marrying her high school sweetheart, Sam Dittmer, on July 2, 1966. She moved to Crawfordsville in 1987.
While everyone knew her favorite job was being a grandma, many things occupied her life, including being a member of the Church of the Nazarene, teaching Sunday school and caravan, working for Raybestos as an administrative assistant, taking in countless foster kids, and traveling the United States in addition to serving a mission trip in Spain.
She was famous for Sunday dinners and holiday gatherings that filled her house and showcased her hospitality, as well as her lead foot that taught her to talk her way out of any speeding ticket. Any of her kids or grandkids would tell you about her iconic shoulder roll that is sure to be passed down for generations. But most of all, she loved Jesus.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Sam Dittmer; her parents; her in-laws; and her brother, Bud (Lois) Krohe.
She is survived by her children, James (Valerie) Dittmer, David (Kim) Dittmer, Sondra (Troy) Sixberry, Sheila Dittmer, Sara (Corey) Bender, John Dittmer, Josh (Payal Patel) Dittmer, Terry (Susan) Dittmer and many others who called her “mom;” her grandchildren, Samantha, Allison and Tiffany Dittmer; Daniel and Jessica Dittmer; Cheyenne (Dustin) Amato; Sydney and Sierra Runyon; Caleb (Madison), Krista and Caden Sixberry; Simone and Corinne Bender; Cassidy, Kellan and Calli Dittmer; Fiona, Noah and Oliver Dittmer; and Madelyn, Cali and Letti Dittmer; her great-granddaughters, Lillian, Rozelyn and Clover; her siblings, Marvin Krohe, Evelyn Hardwick, Ruby Hess and Judy (Larry) Henrikson; and many others she considered to be family.
A visitation will be held Saturday, May 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a funeral service at 1 p.m. at Hillsboro Church of the Nazarene, located at 453 State Road 341, Hillsboro.
Share memories and condolences online at www.SandersFuneralCare.com.
