June Alice Ward

June 18, 1923 - March 2, 2021

June “Junie” Alice (Joerin) Ward, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at the age of 97 at Delnor Hospital, Geneva  IL. June was born on June 18, 1923, and was the oldest of two siblings born to Edwin and Emma Julia (Tietze) Joerin. She and her brother, Edwin, were born at home, and raised, in Detroit Michigan. June attended Denby High School in Detroit where she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Norman (Norm) Lee Ward, in her sophomore year.  After high school, Norm entered the Chrysler Institute of Engineering Training Program, but soon enlisted in the Navy as WWII broke out.  June went to work for Florist Telegraph Delivery (FTD) while Norm was in the Navy. They married on September 16, 1944 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Detroit. Upon Norm’s discharge from the Navy, they moved into a two flat next door to June’s parents.  Norm rejoined his Chrysler training program and specialized in the new field of powdered metallurgy.  Norm and June had two children, Michael, born in 1946 and Karen, born in 1950. The family made many moves during their early years. They moved from Detroit to Canada, back to Michigan, and finally to the Fox Valley in 1966. While living in the Fox Valley, they had homes in Lake Charlotte, Pepper Valley and Kirkwood. In 1998, Norm and June moved to Carriage Oaks Retirement Center, St. Charles. Following Norms’s death in 2000, June remained at Carriage Oaks for several years. In 2017, she moved to Riverain Point Retirement, Batavia, IL, and finally, to Bickford Senior Living in St. Charles. Norm and June were very strong in their faith. With every move, June and Norm would first seek out a church family and were always willing to serve where needed. June had excellent secretarial skills and loved being with people. She was a secretary at Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stratford, Ontario, Canada, Faith Lutheran Church, Port Huron, MI and Faith Lutheran Church, Geneva.  She was also a secretary at an elementary school in Mi and at St. Charles High School, IL. Norm and June traveled extensively. Norm’s career allowed opportunities to travel within the U.S. and Europe. June never passed up these opportunities. Their adventures took them to England, Wales, Germany, Spain and Bermuda. Following their retirement, they traveled to the Bahamas, Yugoslavia and, their favorite, a cruise through the Panama Canal.  They were also Florida snowbirds for several years. June had many other talents and interests. She enjoyed playing games with the family; however, her passion was bridge with both couples and women’s groups. She was a tennis player for many years, and was a long time Detroit Tigers fan which she inherited from her dad, and later, a Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan. She was a seamstress, and enjoyed creating her own clothes. She was passionate about studying the bible, and was always in a bible class. Above all, Junie loved just spending time with her family and her friends. She was loved, and will be dearly missed by all of us. On a final note:  If you knew Junie, you would know her signature, The Color Blue. Within our family, the color Wedgewood Blue will always be “Ward Blue”. June is survived by son, Michael (JoAnne) Ward, their children Melissa (Kurt) Willer and their daughter Julia; Christopher (Richelle) Ward and their children Jordan, Alexa, Parker, and Peyton;  Matthew (Ashley) Ward and their children Claire and Emma; daughter Karen’s son Kevin (Deanna) Erday and their son Jaxon; her sister-in-law Judith Joerin; her nephew Jeffrey (Amy) Joerin; her nieces Kimberly (Thomas) Ketteman and Janice (Todd) Marti.  She is also survived by many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. June was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Norm, Norm’s parents Thomas and Elsie Ward, her brother Edwin, Edwin’s first wife Joyce, daughter Karen and her husband Roger Colby. June’s family is grateful to all who cared for and supported her over the recent years.  We especially want to thank the Bickford Senior Living staff for keeping her safe and happy through these trying times. Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to Bickford Senior Living Activity Fund, 2875 Campton Hills Road, St Charles, IL 60175, or a charity of your choice. Her visitation will be held on Sunday, March 7 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at Yurs Funeral Home, 1771 West State Street, Geneva, IL. Her funeral service will be held on Monday, March 8 at 10:30 am, at Yurs Funeral Home. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Geneva, Illinois.   Guest Book ShareEmail Print