Joyce Arden Rightler, 80, had a giving and nurturing spirit

Obituary for Joyce Arden Rightler

July 12, 1943 — May 4, 2024

Joyce Arden Rightler (née Kirchoff), 80, of Racine, passed away peacefully in the early hours of May 4, 2024.

Joyce was born on Monday, July 12, 1943, to Percy and Bertha Kirchoff at St. Mary’s Hospital in Racine. Joyce was the eldest of five siblings. She enjoyed being the eldest, especially helping oversee her siblings. She grew up in the Crestwood neighborhood of Racine and she loved visiting her grandparent’s farm growing up. She went to Horlick High School in Racine.

Joyce worked in many different jobs, but they were all based on her giving, helping and nurturing spirit. She worked as a waitress in many different restaurants along with Racine Country Club.

She owned and ran Wigs By Joyce for many years and was well known for her hair (wig) dressing skills. She always enjoyed seeing the joy on the ladies’ faces after they got their wigs, especially helping women who lost their hair fighting cancer. She even made sure that those ladies got wigs even if they couldn’t afford them.

Those who knew Joyce knew that was exactly her heart. One of her favorite jobs was working as the household coordinator for Dr. Elisabeth Allen Steffen of Racine. She took care of Dr. Steffen’s household activities and helped Dr. Steffen in many other ways. Not only did she work for Dr. Steffen but this flourished into a great friendship that Joyce spoke about with love and admiration for many years.

She had the opportunity to be in the first phlebotomy class at St. Mary’s Medical Center, earning her phlebotomy diploma and National Certification. She then went on to work for many years as a phlebotomist at St. Mary’s and genuinely loved helping people to get better.

Joyce had also had the opportunity to work as a manager for the thrift store for Lutheran High; she took immense pride in running that store successfully, knowing that helped many students with their Christian-based education. She parlayed that experience to become a manager for the Family Dollar Stores in Racine.

It wouldn’t take exceptionally long after meeting Joyce to see that her faith in Jesus along with her love for her family were her everything. She would volunteer at the Love and Charity mission to help reach people when they most needed the help and to have the opportunity to demonstrate the love of God to others.

Her children and later grandchildren were her entire world. Joyce loved being a mother and would often say that was what she always wanted to be, and she absolutely adored being a grandmother. She would always speak of her grandchildren as being one of the greatest blessings to her.

Joyce was the matriarch of this family and a true gem; she will always be known for her loving kindness along with her willingness to help others and her family. She was always the first to lend a hand; or as most of her friends know, she would rummage through her incredibly organized basement to find whatever someone needed.

Joyce is survived by her children, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer (Jesse) Cernicka and Sheri (Hal) Coffen; grandchildren, Jordan, Jasmine, and Jared Cernicka, Addyson Jones and Katherine (Mike) Martinovich; sister, Janet Greco; and brother, Larry Kirchoff.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Rightler; parents, Percy and Bertha Kirchoff; sisters, Judith Wieland and Jacqueline Hansen and Sue Ellen Kirchoff. They are waiting at the Door to Heaven to welcome her with love, hugs, laughing and of course dancing.

Services

Funeral services for Joyce will be held at 6 p.m. on May 13 at Purath-Strand Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

Obituary and photo of Joyce Arden Rightler courtesy of Purath-Strand Funeral Home.