Joyce A. Proft

Joyce A. Proft Joyce A. Proft, 77, passed away Saturday evening, May 16, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Joyce was born November 15, 1931 in Edgar , Wisconsin . She was the daughter of the late Kurt and Evelyn (Warosh) Umnus. Joyce graduated from Edgar High School in 1949 and went on to obtain her Teaching Degree from the Medford Teacher's College ( Taylor County Normal School ). She taught her first class in 1951 at the Smith School in the Town of Frankfort . That was followed by a few years in March Rapids in the Town of Eau Plaine . Joyce finished her teaching career at the Strupp School in the Town of Wien in 1959. On July 25, 1959 Joyce married David Proft at St. John's Catholic Church, in Edgar. They moved to Evanston , Illinois shortly thereafter and lived in several cities within that state. They eventually returned to Edgar in 1991 to "retire". Joyce was an avid gardener and bird watcher, filling her yard with flower beds and walking paths. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Joyce also enjoyed participating in her community as an active member of Homemakers and several support groups at St. John's parish. Joyce will be deeply and greatly missed by her many relatives and friends. Survivors include her husband, David Proft, Edgar; two children, William D. (Mara) Proft, Appleton , Wisconsin , and Mary E. Hironimus, Wauconda , Illinois ; three grandchildren, Christopher Hironimus and Alicia and Phillip Proft; one sister, Dorothy Biver, South Bend , Indiana and two brothers, Fred (Lois) Umnus, Abbotsford and Kurt ( Beverly ) Umnus, Edgar. In addition to her parents, Joyce was preceded in death by one son, Larry M. Proft and one sister Catherine Crabtree. The funeral mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at St. John's Catholic Church, Edgar. The Rev. Robert Streveler will preside. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4 until 9 p.m. and again on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services, all at the church. There will be a parish rosary service at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening also at the church. Pall Bearers for the service are all students from Joyce's class in the Strupp School. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com