Joyce Lee Wills Kraft, 81, of rural Downs, died at 11:20 a.m. Monday (Aug. 21, 2017) at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, after complications of a long illness. A memorial service will be from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 at her former home at 19983 Wesley, Downs. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences may be sent to Kurt Kraft, her son, at 2704 Keystone Road, Bloomington, IL 61704. Joyce was born Dec. 8, 1935, in rural Chatsworth, the fourth of seven children of Orville and Elizabeth Cassity Wills. She was a graduate of Reddick High School, and obtained her teacher certification at Illinois State University. She later earned her bachelor’s degree at National College of Education (National Louis University), Chicago. She married Jimmy “Jim” Collins Kraft on Sept. 7, 1957, in Bloomington. Surviving are four children, Jeff (Frances) Kraft, Chicago; Jennifer (Joseph) Kolar, Libertyville; Kurt (Karen) Kraft, Bloomington; and Kile Kraft, Arrowsmith; nine grandchildren, Jarred Kolar, Chicago; Taylor (George) Gopinath, Bloomington; Kelsey (John) Venerable, Normal; Jacob Kolar, Chicago; Grace Kraft, Burbank, Calif.; Nora Kraft, Chicago; Collin Kraft, Denver, Colo.; Elle Kraft, Mason City; and Olivia Kraft, Bloomington; three sisters, Bette Richards, Salem, Ore.; Joan Pierce, Casper, Wyo.; and Marilyn (Jack) Rabens, Elmhurst; and two brothers, Jim Wills, Bloomington, and Patrick Wills, Largo, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and one brother. After teaching second-grade children for more than 30 years in Chebanse, she retired to the Bloomington area with her husband. She enjoyed water aerobics with dear friends at the YWCA and Four Seasons I in Bloomington.
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