Joyce Zill Grau

Joyce Zill Grau, 92, died peacefully at her assisted living residence in Plano, Texas, on December 5, 2024. Joyce was born on the family farm in the Town of Mosel, Sheboygan County, WI, to Hilda (Schreiber) and Louis Bender on August 26, 1932. She attended the Champion School, a two-room schoolhouse, often recounting riding to school in a horse drawn sleigh on snowy winter days. She went on to graduate from Sheboygan Central High School in 1950.

On December 20, 1952, Joyce (Bender) married Adrian Zill, at the parsonage of Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, shortly after Adrian returned from the Korean War. They settled in Howards Grove in 1955. 

Joyce worked as an office assistant at the Sheboygan Bedding Company, and waitressed at local restaurants, while her and Adrian raised their three children. At the age of 36 (1968), after determining it was in her and the family's best interest, Joyce enrolled in college, initially attending Sheboygan County Teachers College, and then on to Silver Lake College in Manitowoc where she graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Joyce was an elementary school teacher in the Howards Grove School District for 24 years. During her years of teaching, she went on to complete a master’s degree in Reading Education from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. 

After Adrian’s death in 1996, Joyce met James Grau of Elkhart Lake, and in 2000 they were married and shortly thereafter moved to Southern Pines, North Carolina to enjoy their retirement years together. Joyce kept busy volunteering at the Convention and Visitors Bureau and at the Women’s Exchange.

In 2022 Joyce moved to Plano, Texas residing near her son Jack Zill. 

Joyce enjoyed the simple things in life. She loved gardening, trips to Door County, especially during cherry picking season, the arts, family time, and staying up on current events. She was extremely proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Even though she lived numerous states away, she visited her grandchildren often, many times staying for weeks and assisting with child-rearing duties. 

Joyce was a devout Lutheran, active at Trinity Lutheran Church in Howards Grove, and at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Southern Pines.

Joyce is survived by her son Jack Zill (wife Mary Ellen Gherardi) of Coppell, TX, son in law John Shanklin of Shoreham, NY, grandchildren Ariel Spagnoletti of Studio City, CA, Carmen Reed (husband Josh Greenberg), of Houston, TX, Alice Shanklin (husband Sundeep Sandhu) of Forest Hills, NY, Laura Shanklin of New York, NY, Claire Shanklin of Washington, DC, Alison Zill of New Orleans, LA, Benjamin Zill of New York, NY and Madeline (Clayton) Howeth of Celina, TX. She is also survived by three great grandchildren, Aster, Indi and Ivy Spagnoletti. She is further survived by James’s children and grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her daughter Ann Zill Reed (1992), husband Adrian Zill (1996), daughter Sarah Zill (2003), husband James Grau (2005) sister Janet (Bender) Siefert 2001 and brother Donald Bender (2004).

Family and friends are invited to a “Remembrance Celebration” at Zimmer Westview Funeral & Cremation Care Center in Howards Grove on December 21, 2024. The formal remembrance program, including family addresses and music, will start at 1:30pm, followed immediately by visitation time with food and refreshments...so bring your appetite