Joyce Eileen Koenke, 74, of Urbana, died 10:38 p.m. Monday, August 2, 2010, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Funeral services will be 6:00 p.m. Thursday, August 5 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Urbana with visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. prior to service time at the church. Pastor Bob Rasmus will officiate. Private burial will be at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Mayview.

Mrs. Koenke was born October 4, 1935 at Whitewater, WI, the daughter of Vern Archie and Gladys Irene (Fonda) Ferguson. She married Karl Richard Koenke on July 27, 1957 at the First Methodist Church in Whitewater, WI, he survives. She is also survived by her sons, Jeffrey Allen Koenke (Elizabeth) of Alpha and Randall Ferguson Koenke of Urbana; sister, Jeanette Verle Johnson of Weyauwega, WI; brother, Neil Elsworth Ferguson of Portage, WI; step grandchildren, Debbie Denise Hall (Michael) and Aaron Noel Drake; five step great-grandchildren, and six nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by parents and an infant daughter.

Mrs. Koenke graduated from Whitewater High School in 1953 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She did course work toward a M. Ed. at both Whitewater and Madison campuses. She was an elementary school teacher from 1957 to 1966 in Edgerton, Hartland, Colby and Oregon, WI. She later was a stay-at-home mother and substitute teacher at Urbana Public Schools from 1978 to 1981. She later worked at Rogers Supply Co, Champaign until 2000.

She was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, played in the Bell Choir for twenty five years and taught Sunday School for ten years. She was the driving force behind the church's senior social group, The Cracker Jacks. Joyce continued to teach after the birth of their first child so her husband could attend graduate school. After moving to Illinois, Joyce withdrew her teacher's retirement and used it as the down payment on their home. Her hobby was taking scenic and landscape photos during family vacations. Joyce and Karl were able to take a vacation to Alaska that was in the planning for 45 years.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church Music Program, Urbana.