Joyce Schiesser, 80, of Raymond, died on Friday, June 10, 2022, at 9:48 a.m. at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Butler Funeral Home in Springfield, 900 S. 6th St. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, June 18, beginning at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. John C. Burnette officiating. Burial will follow at St. Maurice Cemetery in Morrisonville.
Mrs. Schiesser was born June 6, 1942, in Zenobia, to Hallie and Maggie Fines Wright. She married Hank Schiesser on June 24, 1967, in Pawnee, and he survives.
She grew up in the Pawnee area and graduated from Pawnee High School in 1960. She also attended Brown’s Business College before she went to work for the State of Illinois Department of Highways.
Mrs. Schiesser met her husband through the Rural Youth Society in Hillsboro. After their marriage, they moved to Raymond, where they raised their children.
She eventually helped run the family business, Hank’s Sales and Service in Raymond, where she and her husband were a team in both life and business. She was vice president of the company, and filled a variety of roles as the business grew.
Mrs. Schiesser would leave at 3 a.m. to pick up a boat at the factory and bring it back to her husband to rig and deliver that day. She did the books, payroll and anything else needed. One of her employees bought her a sign that said, “do you want to speak to the man in charge or the woman that knows what is going on.” This sign still hangs on her former office door.
She was talented, outspoken, a great mom and wife, and above all, fun to be around.
Mrs. Schiesser was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme in 2003 and was given two weeks to live. She was strong and tough, having fought additional issues since. She always kept a positive attitude through her struggles and was an inspiration to many.
She was a member of St. Raymond Catholic Church in Raymond. She enjoyed painting, reading, antiquing, boating, touring old homes, photography, being outdoors and gardening. She liked watching detective shows like Murder She Wrote, Monk and Perry Mason. She also enjoyed traveling and was able to visit Hawaii and the Bahamas.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Schiesser is survived by her son, Todd Schiesser of Taylorville; daughter, Tricha (Matt Crays) Schiesser of Girard; brother, Larry (Wilma) Wright of Pawnee; sister-in-law, Margie Wright of Springfield; special family members, Nicole Crays and her children, Xander and Tauren, and Marc Hartman and his children, Skyla and Rosie; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Hallie “Sonny” and Roger Wright.
Memorials may be directed to St. Raymond Catholic Church, 306 S. McElroy St., Raymond, IL 62560 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.butlerfuneralhomes.com.
