Joyce M. Votaw, age 76, a resident of Wheaton, formerly of Elmore, Ohio, died April 25, 2017, peacefully at home. She was born August 12, 1940 in Elmore, Ohio to Harold "Jack" and Evelyn Miller.

Joyce grew up on a farm in Elmore and graduated from Harris-Elmore High School in 1958 and Bowling Green University in 1961 with a degree in Education. She married her high school sweetheart, John Votaw, on June 8, 1961 in the cadet chapel at West Point in New York.

As a military wife, they moved often. They lived in Hawaii, where her first two daughters were born, later in California they welcomed their third child, and their son was born while they lived in New York. After John's retirement in 1986, they moved to Wheaton in order for John to work at Cantigny Park as the Military Museum Director. Joyce worked for over 20 years as a teacher at St. Michael School in Wheaton.

She is survived by her husband, John Votaw, four children, Laura Jayne (Charles) Ditzler of Pennsylvania, Cynthia Anne (Bryan) Ghent of Maryland, Mary Elizabeth (Warren) Judge of Oregon, IL, and John Frederick (Yuka) Votaw of St. Charles, IL, nine grandchildren, Matthew, Chrysta, Ashley, C.J., Jessica, Samantha, Amanda, Olivia, and Evelyn, six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Marilyn Shamp of Findlay, Ohio and her family. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Services will be held privately. Family and those invited will visit at the funeral home on Saturday, April 29, from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children's Hospital .

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.