Joyce Marie Latzke

Joyce Marie Latzke, age 88, of Pana, Illinois, died Sunday, September 15, 2024, at the home of her daughter Jackie. She was born October 21, 1935, in Varna, Illinois, the daughter of Harry and Dorothy (Smith) Sylvester. On May 3, 1952, she married her forever love Richard J. Latzke, Sr., in Illinois.

She was a huge baseball fan, especially loving the Cubs, even though her father was a White Sox fan. Nothing thrilled her more than seeing them live, with the highlight being game 4 of the World Series. She loved to travel with and visit family, touring France, Italy, Sedona, Arizona, Washington, D.C., and many other places. Her family saw her as one of the strongest women they have ever known and were blessed to have her as their mom. She was a dedicated homemaker and wife, always put her family first, and loved to play bingo. Even when her children were in their sixties, she cared for them just as if they were still ten years old. She was precious to all of them, knowing they are not saying good-bye to her but that they will see her again- “we love you more than pizza.”

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Richard; daughter Tina; sisters Irene (Tony) Martyniuk, Sue Sieling, and Sally Chitwood; brother Jerry Sylvester; brother-in-laws Fred Grammer, Bob Bennett, and Ron Sieling; sister-in-law Carol Sylvester; daughters-in-law Karen Latzke and Lori Latzke, and grandson Matthew Gorski.

She is, survived by her siters Carol Bennett of Mt. Morris, Illinois, Jean Lawrence of Searcy, Arkansas, and Lynn (Kevin) Coll of Huntly, Illinois; her brother Bud Sylvester of Sherman, Texas; seven children, Jackie (Terry) Coll of Pana, Illinois; Richard, Jr., of Janesville, Wisconsin; Sharon (Paul) Bennefield of Steward, Illinois; Curtis (Chrissy) Latzke of Shelbyville, Illinois; Wendy (Keith) Gorski of Conroe; Texas; Jeff Latzke of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Brian (Randi) Latzke of Safety Harbor, Florida; thirteen grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday October 19, 2024 at 12:00 P.M. in Finch Funeral Home, 405 East Hitt, Mt. Morris, IL  61054.  A visitation will be held on Saturday October 19, 2024 from 10:30 A.M. until service time in Finch Funeral Home.  There will be a luncheon following the memorial service in the Mt. Morris Moose Lodge, Moose Lane, Mt. Morris, IL 61054.