January
14,
1969
14,
1969
August
18,
2023
18,
2023
Joyce Annette Riskedal
1969-2023
The community of Leland, LaSalle County, the agriculture industry, and, in fact, the entire world lost a glowing beacon of care and love on August 18, 2023, as Joyce Annette Riskedal, (nee Maierhofer), 54, exited this world due to a traffic accident.
Joyce was born January 14, 1969, to James and Margaret (Kehoe) Maierhofer and was raised on the family farm north of Seneca. The times have flipped as one of her many current activities was to provide health care to her parents who still maintain the farm.
Joyce endured the usual torment as a little girl on the farm from her brothers, which served her well as she raised two wonderful boys of her own. She is survived by those two brothers, Les (Nadine) and Jeff (Jenna) Maierhofer both of Seneca, and was preceded in death by another, James, Jr., who passed away in infancy. Also surviving are her beloved nieces and nephews: Kaitlin (Patrick) Monahan (and great-niece Maggie) of rural Oglesby, Kassidy (fiancé, Lane Davis) of Clarksville, TN, and Levi and Calvin Maierhofer of Seneca.
A 1987 graduate of Seneca High School, Joyce ranked as salutatorian and left her mark as a record-holder in volleyball, drum majorette and a member of the state championship basketball team. Although she was not in the FFA, much to the chagrin of her brothers, she has more than made up for that with her support of the organization as a donor and an SLS FFA Alumni member.
Joyce graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in elementary education in 1991. She used that degree to teach at Sheridan Grade School for two years, substitute teach at Leland for many years, and coordinate the job shadowing program at Leland High School. Her degree was used more as a community instructor at Vacation Bible School, Cub Scout Day Camp and 4-H Camp at Shaw-wa-na-see. 4-H was an integral part of Joyce’s life as a child, and she maintained her association as a member of 4-H House Cooperative Sorority where she lived in college and continued to serve on the Alumni Board.
On July 5, 1991, Joyce married her perfect man whom she met in college at a 4-H house party: Brad Riskedal, a farmer from Leland. How two completely compatible souls met in one spot in Champaign on a January night in 1988 is one of the great mysteries of life. That meeting became the start of, and the epitome of, a family-oriented, community-minded and faith-based family. Joyce and Brad owned and operated Country Lights Soy Candles, Riskedal Farms and “R" Delivery.
Joyce’s neighbors across the driveway, friends, and in-laws, Steve and Sandy (Sawyer) Riskedal, were a huge part of her life. Sister-in-law, Robin (Dave) Bishop lives in Grainger, Indiana, with Joyce’s nieces, Reagan, Erica and Zoe.
Joyce’s proudest accomplishment was raising two sons. Her oldest, Darren (Kendall) Riskedal lives in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. Joyce had already perfected the art of being the ideal grandmother to two-year-old, Owen. Her younger son, Stephen, was still enjoying Joyce’s delicious and spectacular cooking at home in rural Leland.
In what came to be an unintentional metaphor for her life, Joyce spread light across America as the owner and operator of Country Lights Candles. What started as a whim on her kitchen table turned into a most-of-the-time fundraiser program for organizations and has provided hundreds of thousands of soy candles across the United States. The candle business was so brisk that she kicked Brad out of the farm shop for her processing area.
Joyce served the Leland community every day. She was a leader, coordinator of events, or whatever title you’d like to give her of Bethany Lutheran Church, living her faith every day as she served everyone in a Christian manner no matter the circumstances.
She touched the lives of hundreds of youth in the scouting program in LaSalle County. Joyce assisted ten boys, including her own two sons, reach the rank of Eagle Scout. Even after her boys were grown, she continued to lead the young cub scouts.
She was never a Leland Lions Club member, but Joyce loved working and helping others in the Leland Lions Club farm auction office.
Joyce and Brad were members of the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee and developed a strong network of like-minded farmers from across the state.
One of her favorite activities was providing a sweet corn patch every year from which all donations go to Christmas 4 Kids in LaSalle County. This year’s patch is ready for picking on Route 23 in Baker. Please smile and think of her as you enjoy the corn.
If this seems like a lot for one human, keep in mind that she was also the organizer of family gatherings, community festivals, scouting feasts, and church dinners. Although it seems like she was all work and no play, it was the opposite. Joyce loved to camp, go on four-wheeler trips and explore the country in the RV.
The flicker of her candle may have burned out, but Joyce Riskedal will continue to illuminate the hearts of all who knew her.
If you would like to assist in maintaining Joyce’s legacy of caring for others, the family requests that memorials and or donations in lieu of flowers be directed to any organization or charity that you have read about above.
Visitation will take place from 2:00 – 8:00 PM on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Bethany Lutheran Church located at 235 E. Lundy Lane in Leland, refreshments will be available in the air-conditioned Fellowship Hall. Funeral service to take place at 9:00 AM on Thursday, August 24, 2023, with Pastor Hope Johnson officiating at the same location that Joyce loved to serve. Burial will be at Little Indian Creek Cemetery in Leland. Due to the expected excessive heat this upcoming week, the family requests (and you know Joyce would, too!) that you dress accordingly. Let it be the first time you wear shorts to a visitation. For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Homes
13160 W. Rt 34 PO Box 404
Somonauk, Il. 60552
815-498-2363
1969-2023
The community of Leland, LaSalle County, the agriculture industry, and, in fact, the entire world lost a glowing beacon of care and love on August 18, 2023, as Joyce Annette Riskedal, (nee Maierhofer), 54, exited this world due to a traffic accident.
Joyce was born January 14, 1969, to James and Margaret (Kehoe) Maierhofer and was raised on the family farm north of Seneca. The times have flipped as one of her many current activities was to provide health care to her parents who still maintain the farm.
Joyce endured the usual torment as a little girl on the farm from her brothers, which served her well as she raised two wonderful boys of her own. She is survived by those two brothers, Les (Nadine) and Jeff (Jenna) Maierhofer both of Seneca, and was preceded in death by another, James, Jr., who passed away in infancy. Also surviving are her beloved nieces and nephews: Kaitlin (Patrick) Monahan (and great-niece Maggie) of rural Oglesby, Kassidy (fiancé, Lane Davis) of Clarksville, TN, and Levi and Calvin Maierhofer of Seneca.
A 1987 graduate of Seneca High School, Joyce ranked as salutatorian and left her mark as a record-holder in volleyball, drum majorette and a member of the state championship basketball team. Although she was not in the FFA, much to the chagrin of her brothers, she has more than made up for that with her support of the organization as a donor and an SLS FFA Alumni member.
Joyce graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in elementary education in 1991. She used that degree to teach at Sheridan Grade School for two years, substitute teach at Leland for many years, and coordinate the job shadowing program at Leland High School. Her degree was used more as a community instructor at Vacation Bible School, Cub Scout Day Camp and 4-H Camp at Shaw-wa-na-see. 4-H was an integral part of Joyce’s life as a child, and she maintained her association as a member of 4-H House Cooperative Sorority where she lived in college and continued to serve on the Alumni Board.
On July 5, 1991, Joyce married her perfect man whom she met in college at a 4-H house party: Brad Riskedal, a farmer from Leland. How two completely compatible souls met in one spot in Champaign on a January night in 1988 is one of the great mysteries of life. That meeting became the start of, and the epitome of, a family-oriented, community-minded and faith-based family. Joyce and Brad owned and operated Country Lights Soy Candles, Riskedal Farms and “R" Delivery.
Joyce’s neighbors across the driveway, friends, and in-laws, Steve and Sandy (Sawyer) Riskedal, were a huge part of her life. Sister-in-law, Robin (Dave) Bishop lives in Grainger, Indiana, with Joyce’s nieces, Reagan, Erica and Zoe.
Joyce’s proudest accomplishment was raising two sons. Her oldest, Darren (Kendall) Riskedal lives in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. Joyce had already perfected the art of being the ideal grandmother to two-year-old, Owen. Her younger son, Stephen, was still enjoying Joyce’s delicious and spectacular cooking at home in rural Leland.
In what came to be an unintentional metaphor for her life, Joyce spread light across America as the owner and operator of Country Lights Candles. What started as a whim on her kitchen table turned into a most-of-the-time fundraiser program for organizations and has provided hundreds of thousands of soy candles across the United States. The candle business was so brisk that she kicked Brad out of the farm shop for her processing area.
Joyce served the Leland community every day. She was a leader, coordinator of events, or whatever title you’d like to give her of Bethany Lutheran Church, living her faith every day as she served everyone in a Christian manner no matter the circumstances.
She touched the lives of hundreds of youth in the scouting program in LaSalle County. Joyce assisted ten boys, including her own two sons, reach the rank of Eagle Scout. Even after her boys were grown, she continued to lead the young cub scouts.
She was never a Leland Lions Club member, but Joyce loved working and helping others in the Leland Lions Club farm auction office.
Joyce and Brad were members of the Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee and developed a strong network of like-minded farmers from across the state.
One of her favorite activities was providing a sweet corn patch every year from which all donations go to Christmas 4 Kids in LaSalle County. This year’s patch is ready for picking on Route 23 in Baker. Please smile and think of her as you enjoy the corn.
If this seems like a lot for one human, keep in mind that she was also the organizer of family gatherings, community festivals, scouting feasts, and church dinners. Although it seems like she was all work and no play, it was the opposite. Joyce loved to camp, go on four-wheeler trips and explore the country in the RV.
The flicker of her candle may have burned out, but Joyce Riskedal will continue to illuminate the hearts of all who knew her.
If you would like to assist in maintaining Joyce’s legacy of caring for others, the family requests that memorials and or donations in lieu of flowers be directed to any organization or charity that you have read about above.
Visitation will take place from 2:00 – 8:00 PM on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Bethany Lutheran Church located at 235 E. Lundy Lane in Leland, refreshments will be available in the air-conditioned Fellowship Hall. Funeral service to take place at 9:00 AM on Thursday, August 24, 2023, with Pastor Hope Johnson officiating at the same location that Joyce loved to serve. Burial will be at Little Indian Creek Cemetery in Leland. Due to the expected excessive heat this upcoming week, the family requests (and you know Joyce would, too!) that you dress accordingly. Let it be the first time you wear shorts to a visitation. For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Homes
13160 W. Rt 34 PO Box 404
Somonauk, Il. 60552
815-498-2363
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