Joyce Kathleen Dittmer, 80, of Crawfordsville, IN, passed away on April 28, 2026.

Joyce was the daughter of a watermelon farmer, born on Feb. 12, 1946, in Beardstown, IL to Philip and Dollie Krohe. She graduated from Beardstown High School in 1964 and attended Olivet Nazarene University before marrying her high school sweetheart, Sam Dittmer, on July 2, 1966. She moved to Crawfordsville, IN in 1987, where she has resided ever since. While everyone knew that her favorite job was being a grandma, many things occupied her full life, including being an active member of the Church of the Nazarene, teaching Sunday school and caravan, working for Raybestos as an administrative assistant, taking in countless foster kids, and traveling around the United States in addition to serving a mission trip in Spain. She was famous for her Sunday dinners and big holiday gatherings that would pack her house and showcase her hospitality, as well as her stubborn lead foot that taught her how to talk her way out of any speeding ticket. Any of her kids or grandkids would tell you about her iconic shoulder roll that is sure to be passed down for generations. But most of all, she loved Jesus.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Sam Dittmer; her parents; her in-laws; and her brother, Bud (Lois) Krohe.

She is survived by her children, James (Valerie) Dittmer, David (Kim) Dittmer, Sondra (Troy) Sixberry, Sheila Dittmer, Sara (Corey) Bender, John Dittmer, Josh (Payal Patel) Dittmer, Terry (Susan) Dittmer and many others who called her "mom;" her grandchildren Samantha Dittmer, Daniel Dittmer, Allison Dittmer, Jessica Dittmer, Caleb (Madison) Sixberry, Tiffany Dittmer, Krista Sixberry, Caden Sixberry, Simone Bender, Corinne Bender, Cassidy Dittmer, Kellan Dittmer, Calli Dittmer, Fiona Dittmer, Noah Dittmer, Oliver Dittmer, Madelyn Dittmer, Cali Dittmer, and Letti Dittmer; her great granddaughters, Lillian, Rozelyn, and Clover Sixberry; her siblings, Marvin Krohe, Evelyn Hardwick, Ruby Hess, and Judy (Larry) Henrikson; and many others she considered to be family.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a funeral service at 1 p.m. at Hillsboro Church of the Nazarene, located at 453 IN-341, Hillsboro, IN 47949. Burial will follow at Indian Creek Hill Cemetery. Sanders Funeral Care is entrusted with care. Share memories and condolences online at www.SandersFuneralCare.com.