Joy Marie Ickes

Joy Marie Ickes of Plainfield, Ohio, passed on to be reunited with her mother, Margaret (McCombs) Bieleski-Cole and her father, Franklin Bieleski on Monday, May 3, 2021 at Community Hospice House at New Philadelphia. She was born December 18, 1944 at Dennison, Ohio.

Joy was a hardworking wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

She always went out of her way to make her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren happy. She always wanted things to be better for them growing up than it was for her. She had a lifelong love for painting, reading and gardening. Her most favorite thing was making sure everyone got something to eat when they visited and nobody was going home hungry.

Joy was raised by her grandparents and other relatives from the time she was 8 years old. Her father died fighting for our country in World War II, fighting against the oppression of the roots of his family. Her mother also passed away when she was 8 years old. While being raised by her grandparents, she learned to make do with what you have and learned about gardening. Growing up, she also learned about the value of family. As she started to raise her own family she used the skills taught by her family to make the simple things seem to be great for her own children. She would mend our clothes or even make us new clothes when necessary. She cooked the most amazing food and would make do with anything she had. When we were young kids, she would often make egg gravy and toast. A few years ago we asked her why she stopped making it and she told us she only made it because that was all she could afford at the time. We told her we missed the gravy and we thought it was great.

We love you and will miss you.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Franklin and Margaret Bieleski, her brother, Bill Cole and a granddaughter, Annette Reynolds.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Alden L. Ickes, brother, Jim (Terry) Bieleski, sister, Cindy Hamilton, daughter, Lora (Dan) Freed, son, Alden “Buck” (Moana) Ickes II, son, Scott (Lisa) Ickes, daughter, Pam (Ron) Allan, daughter, Sharon (Shon) Brown, grandchildren, Matthew, Stephanie, Nathan, James, Karen, Andrea, Jeff, Brian, Kodie, Casey, Adam, 12 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild.

Cremation will take place through the care of the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia and a private family gathering of remembrance will be held.

Although Mom loved flowers, she didn’t care to watch cut flowers die, she loved to watch them live. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.