Joy Ellen Harshberger

June 20, 1947 - April 22, 2018

It is with great sadness that the family of Joy Ellen Harshberger announces her passing on Sunday, April 22, 2018, age 70. Joy will be lovingly remembered by the love of her life and husband of 8 years, Dale. Beloved and devoted mother of Glenn True and Melissa (Thomas) McLaurin, stepdaughters Beth (Chris) Bruns and Susan Lesnik. Proud grandmother of, Jacob, Katie, Semini, Ryan, Zora, Brandon and Emmaus. Dear sister of Alan (Cherie) Schumann. Special aunt of Bradley and Katherine. Cherished by her sister in spirit, Jennifer (Jim) Rohrer and their children. Predeceased by her parents, Heinz and Joy Schumann.

Born on June 20, 1947 in Milwaukee, WI, Joy lived up to her name through and through. Starting at Congress Elementary, to Edison Middle School, she was part of the first ever 4-year graduating class at Marshall High School in Milwaukee. Most of her life was spent in the service of helping people. Her career spanned extended years at St. Joseph’s hospital, Marion Catholic Home Nursing Home, and then Villa Clement Nursing Home (later Allis Care Center) on 91^st and Greenfield. Her last vocation was helping to form and be the Executive Director of Serenity Inns- a transitional living facility for men in recovery.

Her faith in God was an ever present part of Joy’s life. A nearly life-long member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (48^th and Nash Streets), she lived out and taught God’s word every day.

After nearly 40 years, Joy was able to reconnect with the love of her life, Dale Harshberger. They reconnected in 2002 and spent the rest of her life happily together. Theirs was truly a fairy tale that Joy loved to tell!

Joy was an awesome mom. A single mother, she had a way of making very clear to her children what consequences meant, but in a kind and caring way. In a racially charged and divided world, she instilled in her children that diversity is not only important, but something to be cherished…something her parents instilled in her.

Joy’s love and humor will be terribly missed. Hearing her roar for the Packers on Sundays will be missed. Her wonderful cooking will be missed. Her ability to be the “Glue” of the family will be missed. Her perspectives at her Bible studies will be missed. Her motherly advice will be missed. Her being a stupendous Nonni/Grandma will be missed. The world seems a little less right without her in it.

Gathering at Krause Funeral Home, 7001 West Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee on Tuesday May 1, 2018 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. Memorial Service to follow at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations appreciated to the family to be donated to Joy’s favorite charity, Serenity Inns.

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Service Information

Gathering Information

Krause Funeral Home Brown Deer

Address:

7001 West Brown Deer Road

Milwaukee, WI 53223

Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Service Information

Krause Funeral Home Brown Deer

Address:

7001 West Brown Deer Road

Milwaukee, WI 53223

Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Memorial Information

In lieu of flowers, donations appreciated to the family to be donated to Joy’s favorite charity, Serenity Inns.

Life Event Timeline

Celebrating Joy as co-founder and first Exec. Director of Serenity Inns

April 21, 2017

Joy at 4 days old

June 24, 1947

Joy became a big sister!

August 10, 1949

Not afraid to get a little dirty!

June 25, 1952

Joy’s Missy was born

September 30, 1979

Mom’s Glenn was Born

February 2, 1976

Such a lovely lady

June 20, 1965

Such a good mom!

August 15, 1983

Best Nonni EVER!!!

April 11, 2012

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Ann Van Dunk posted on 4/25/18

Hi Missy, I so hate to write an email to convey my sorrow. I know how terribly you must miss your mom. It sounds like things came about so suddenly and swiftly. Please know that Greg and my prayers are with you and Glen and your kids. So many memories of you as a teenager flood my mind. I ran into her some years ago at a coffee shop and she just beamed talking about you and your family. Joy certainly brought joy. She touched so many. I feel blessed to have crossed paths with her in this life. Best, Ann

Rick Deines posted on 4/24/18

On a June evening in 2001, I gave Joy a ride home from the airport. It was time five of us returned from several days of experiencing Samaritan Inns in Washington, D.C. Joy had worked along with me for a few years in the Milwaukee Lutheran Coalition, the ELCA and Greater Milwaukee Synod’s ‘urban ministry strategy.’ That group planted the seed which was to become ‘Serenity Inns.' As we rode toward her home, I asked her about how she thought a Samaritan Inn approach would work in Milwaukee. She immediately and ‘joy'-fully said, ‘Of course. Do you think we can get support?’ I said, ‘Yes, if you would accept being the Executive Director?’ After she took a couple of deep breaths, she bubbled ‘yes, of course.’ That ‘Yes’ became the heart of SI’s mission until 2010. When folks ask how does a dream like Serenity get actualized, I point to that ‘Joy' moment. When she said ‘yes’, I knew Serenity was going to happen, someway, somehow. The internal life of the early years (2002-2010) of Serenity Inns was always a commitment bolstered by ‘hand to mouth’ sustenance. Joy’s work with Ron Jones at Siebert, her staffing beginning with Ellen Blathers and her faithfully establishing the core program of Samaritan Inns as the Serenity approach are a few ways she made it work. Along with Ellen the nitty-grittiy, thankless details that come with working with men in recovery with few resources were owned by Joy on a daily basis. She and Ellen knew commitment. That ‘team’ always showed up. She personally filled SI’s economic needs when gaps appeared between funding cycles. Serenity was her vocation, her ‘call from God.’ That I do not want to forget. That I want you to know and share. We all know the reality of loss. At the same time we know of the kind of acceptance that is possible when we don’t control things. Of course, we wait in anticipation of Joy receiving more of life as we know it. Nevertheless, we claim for her, her family, Serenity Inn, and ourselves the Spirit of life that she will live into. I trust we will be faithful to that memory. I conclude with both sadness and a renewed sense of what a compassion centered life-fulfilled can bring to a community. We continue to be gifted by Joy’s life. Thank you, Joy, and the peace that passes all human understanding keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, who you know as your saving presence.

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Joy Ellen Harshberger

Service Information

Gathering Information

Service Information

Memorial Information

Life Event Timeline

Celebrating Joy as co-founder and first Exec. Director of Serenity Inns

Joy at 4 days old

Joy became a big sister!

Not afraid to get a little dirty!

Joy’s Missy was born

Mom’s Glenn was Born

Such a lovely lady

Such a good mom!

Best Nonni EVER!!!

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