Joyce Zill Grau, 92, died peacefully at her assisted living residence in Plano, Texas, on December
5, 2024. Joyce was born on the family farm in the Town of Mosel, Sheboygan County, WI, to
Hilda (Schreiber) and Louis Bender on August 26, 1932. She attended the Champion School, a
two-room schoolhouse, often recounting riding to school in a horse drawn sleigh on snowy
winter days. She went on to graduate from Sheboygan Central High School in 1950.
On December 20, 1952, Joyce (Bender) married Adrian Zill, at the parsonage of Trinity Lutheran
Church, Sheboygan, shortly after Adrian returned from the Korean War. They settled in
Howards Grove in 1955.
Joyce worked as an office assistant at the Sheboygan Bedding Company, and waitressed at local
restaurants, while her and Adrian raised their three children. At the age of 36 (1968), after
determining it was in her and the family’s best interest, Joyce enrolled in college, initially
attending Sheboygan County Teachers College, and then on to Silver Lake College in Manitowoc
where she graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Joyce was an
elementary school teacher in the Howards Grove School District for 24 years. During her years
of teaching, she went on to complete a master’s degree in Reading Education from the
University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.
After Adrian’s death in 1996, Joyce met James Grau of Elkhart Lake, and in 2000 they were
married and shortly thereafter moved to Southern Pines, North Carolina to enjoy their
retirement years together. Joyce kept busy volunteering at the Convention and Visitors Bureau
and at the Women’s Exchange.
In 2022 Joyce moved to Plano, Texas residing near her son Jack Zill.
Joyce enjoyed the simple things in life. Gardening, trips to Door County, especially during cherry
picking season, the arts, family time, and staying up on current events. She was extremely
proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Even though she lived numerous
states away, she visited her grandchildren often, many times staying for weeks and assisting
with child-rearing duties.
Joyce was a devout Lutheran, active at Trinity Lutheran Church in Howards Grove, and at Our
Savior Lutheran Church in Southern Pines.
Joyce is survived by her son Jack Zill (Mary Ellen Gherardi) of Coppell, TX, son in law John
Shanklin of Shoreham, NY, grandchildren Ariel Spagnoletti of Studio City, CA, Carmen Reed of
Houston, TX, Alice Shanklin (husband Sundeep Sandhu) of Forest Hills, NY, Laura Shanklin of
New York, NY, Claire Shanklin of Washington, DC, Alison Zill of New Orleans, LA, Benjamin Zill of
New York, NY and Madeline (Clayton) Howeth of Celina, TX. She is also survived by three great
grandchildren, Aster, Indi and Ivy Spagnoletti. She is further survived by James’s children and
grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Ann Zill Reed (1992), husband Adrian Zill (1996),
daughter Sarah Zill (2003), husband James Grau (2005) sister Janet (Bender) Siefert 2001 and
brother Donald Bender (2004).
Family and Friends are invited to a “Remembrance Celebration” at Zimmer Westview Funeral &
Cremation Care Center in Howards Grove on December 21, 2024. The formal remembrance
program, including family addresses and music, will start at 1:30pm, followed immediately by
visitation time with food and refreshments…so bring your appetite.
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