Joy Sickler

Joy Lorraine Sickler, age 87, of Weston, was called to join her Savior in heaven on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, with her beloved husband at her side at Lili Gardens Memory Care.

Joy was born on December 13, 1938, at home in Argonne, Wisconsin, the daughter of Murdock and Emma (Krause) DuFour. Joy graduated from Crandon High School, class of 1956. She moved to Wausau after high school with her best friend Dora to work in the secretarial pool at Employers Insurance. Soon after moving, she met the love of her life Gene Sickler. They were united in marriage at St. Peter Ev. Lutheran Church, Schofield, on November 12, 1960. A love story lasting over 65 years.

The driving forces of Joy’s life were her family and her faith. Gene and Joy were blessed with four children, instilling the family values of being together whenever possible, sharing love and laughter, not arguing, and supporting one another always. The couple, along with a band of other faithful souls, came together as charter members of Redeemer Ev. Lutheran Church in 1964, providing a foundation of faith for their family and where she continued as a member until her passing.

Most of her adult life, Joy worked at Wilson-Hurd in Wausau, starting in the plant in quality control, and retiring as an Order Entry Supervisor in 1998. Outside her work life, Joy enjoyed gardening, ceramics, music, and anything Gene or the kids or grandkids were doing. In retirement, the Sicklers’ tried the snowbird life for three years. But truly, travel for Joy meant going to see her family wherever they were living – Minot, North Dakota to Clearwater, Florida, to Lodi and Madison, Wisconsin.

Joy was passionate about Christian education and with Gene donated time, talent, and contributions to help get Northland Lutheran High School off the ground. She continued helping Northland by volunteering her time to sort and clean donated items at the Dime and Dollar Thrift Store which supports the school. She also tagged along with Gene when he did paperwork at Northland, religiously bringing treats for the office staff and enjoying getting to know the students and attending programs. 

Joy had a big heart and because her uncles and brothers had served in the military, she often wrote letters to servicemen and in other ways offered comfort to those deployed abroad.

Joy is survived by her beloved husband Gene; son Kevin (Laurie) and their son Christian (Emily); daughter Kristi Brereton and her children Katherine (Anthony) Roelke and Raymond Brereton; and daughter Marie (Craig) Furniss and their sons Logan and Jackson Furniss; her nephews, Neal DuFour, Stephen Sickler and Stuart Sickler; and nieces, Nancy (Corey) Hoffmann, Linda (John) Weiland, Sue (Brad Habeck) Sickler, Sara Lemke, and Sherriè (John) Ward.

She was preceded in death by her son, Michael (“Woody”); her parents, Murdock and Emma DuFour; and her brothers, William, Arthur and James; and nephews Kenneth DuFour and Timothy DuFour. 

A celebration of Joy’s life will be held on February 16, 2026, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 6404 Old Costa Lane, Weston, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Ryan Cortwright presiding. The church will be open for guests at 9:30 a.m. A private burial will take place in the future at Forestville Cemetery, Ringle. 

Memorials may be made to Redeemer Ev. Lutheran Church, Northland Lutheran High School, or the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin. 

The family would like to thank the staff of Lili Gardens Memory Care and St. Croix Hospice for their kindness, compassion, and loving care of Joy; and a special thank you to Pastor Ryan Cortwright of Redeemer Ev. Lutheran Church for ministering to Joy and the family. In the end, Joy spoke few words but had many smiles for all. Her sweet soul will be missed. 

Ascend Funeral Home & Cremation Care is assisting the Sickler family with arrangements. You may sign the family guestbook at www.ascendweston.org.