Joyce Ann Hekel
April 18, 1939 ~ July 26, 2021
Joyce Ann (Sheeler) Hekel, 82, of Columbus, Indiana passed away July 26, 2021 at her residence. She was born April 18, 1939 in Monroe, Iowa to the late Ray Walker Sheeler and Marjorie Tabor Sheeler and has been a resident of Columbus since 2007.
Funeral services will be held at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home at 4:00 p.m. Friday July 30, 2021, with visitation beginning at 3:00 p.m. Following the services in Columbus, she will be taken back to her hometown of Monroe, Iowa where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday August 3, 2021 at Coburn Funeral Home with visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. Following the service, she will be laid to rest in the Silent City Cemetery in Monroe.
Joyce is survived by her sons, Christopher Hekel of Houston, Texas and Scott Hekel of Columbus and her brother, Jim Sheeler of San Diego, California. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ray Walker Sheeler and Marjorie Tabor Raaberg.
You are invited to send a message of condolence to the Hekel family via the funeral home website: www.jewellrittman.com
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Dear Christopher and Scott and families,
My condolences on the loss of your mother. She and my mother, Donna Newton (who passed 7/21), were good friends in Columbus. I had the pleasure of meeting Joyce on one of my visits to Columbus and enjoyed a fun lunch with both. After my father passed in 2012 and my mother moved to Mishawaka in 2013, Joyce kindly offered to help mom with keeping flowers on my dad’s gravesite. She did this for several years as she was able to do so, and it was a great relief to mom knowing that Joyce had been able to do that since mom could no longer travel long distances. They kept in touch by phone and mail after mom moved, and I know mom missed sharing their times together. I am grateful to Joyce for their friendship. May she rest in peace.
Kay Newton
Dear Chris, Scott and Family –
Joyce was a treasure and I was very fortunate to work with her at Rice Hall James in San Diego where we became friends. Joyce since day one was always supportive, loving, funny and for me, the RHJ historian. I’ve kept in contact with her since she retired and I’ve enjoyed our phone calls. I will say those calls did go on for a while but I always learned something then we parted. Lately, hanging up became harder to do. I will miss her terribly but I know she is at peace. I always enjoyed hearing her talk about her family and hear how proud she was of each of you. May her memory – and there are so many good ones – bring you comfort as they have for me.
Sincerest regards,
Carl Obeck
Dear Chris, Scott and family,
Joyce and I became friends over the many years we worked together at Rice, Hall, James & Associates in San Diego, California. Joyce joined RHJ after graduating from secretarial school and used those skills during her 28 year career with the firm. She served not only as an executive secretary but as the receptionist, cheerfully greeting clients, getting to
know them and recognizing their voices on the phone. RHJ was fortunate to have such stability in her position. She navigated a lot of changes over the years – fax machines, computers, phone systems and several moves. But just as important as her work ethic, was her friendship to us all – a good listener and a comforting friend. Our friendship continued after we each retired. I will miss reminiscing with her. I will miss hearing her voice.
May you find comfort in knowing how much she was loved.
Pat Urbonya Kaiser
Dear Chris, Scott and Family,
I had the pleasure of working with Joyce for many years at RHJ and will cherish so many warm memories of her time with us, supporting and cheering us on, genuinely caring about each and everyone of the employees and our well-being, always asking about the our kids and their accomplishments.
She showed a lot of pride in all her tasks, such loyalty to the firm and her friends, and was always selfless in her actions.
My sincere condolences to you all.
Thao Buu-hoan