Linda “Joyce” Grotevant, age 84, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at OSF St. Francis in Peoria.

Services for Joyce will be held on Monday, July 13, 2026 at Pontiac United Methodist Church, 219 N Chicago Street, Pontiac, IL with a visitation from 10:00am until the time of the funeral service at 11:30am. Joyce will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery in Pontiac, IL.

Joyce (Kimber) Grotevant was born January 28, 1942 in Pontiac, IL to Gilbert and Josephine (Reick) Kimber.

She is survived by her beloved husband Charlie Grotevant; her children, Jeff (Lin) Grotevant of Cedar Park, TX; Julie (Vernon) Malone of Kempton, IL; Jill Birch of Cabery, IL; and sister-in-laws Dawn Kimber of Mesa, AZ and Jane Grotevant of Benton Harbor, MI. Her grandchildren are Jake Birch, Ashley (Justin) Fritz, Zach (Laura) Malone, Alex (Stephanie) Malone, Dana Malone, Luke Grotevant, and Mark Grotevant. Five great grandchildren Liam Fritz, Ady Fritz, Tucker Malone, Taelyn Malone, and Krew Malone also survive.

She is preceded in death by her parents, son-in-law Roger Birch, and brother Bob Kimber.

Joyce grew up on an Odell farm and married Charlie April 29, 1962 at the Odell United Methodist Church. Both were graduates of Odell Grade and High School, the Class of 1960. Joyce proclaimed over the years “we never met, we’ve always known each other”.

Following high school graduation Joyce worked for Country Mutual Insurance Company upon its relocation to Bloomington until August 1962 when Charlie was assigned permanent duty status at Fort Devens, MA as a member of the U.S. Army. Their two older children were born while living in Leominster, MA.

Farming began in 1966 at Odell, relocating to a larger farm near Cabery in 1970. Joyce was a full farming partner, in the field as a tractor and combine operator as well as being a mother. In peak years they farmed 1300 acres and harvested an additional 900 acres for others.

In 1970 Joyce began involvement with the Cabery United Methodist Church as a part time organist, then later as full-time organist, serving on the church board and Women’s Group in various capacities and later serving as Treasurer for Trinity Methodist Parish. Involvement with Tri-Point School activities and Kempton American Legion Auxiliary followed.

A major focus for many years was involvement with Kankakee County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee and Ag-In-The Classroom activities and the state-wide Adopt-A Classroom Program, adopting an inner-city Chicago classroom. Joyce also served as District 6 Director for the Illinois Farm Bureau Women’s Committee when the organization was a dynamic entity and later as a member of other state Farm Bureau Committees.

From 2000-2015 she was a major part of the 3-day Ag-In-The- Classroom Bike Ride, serving as a Co-Chair the final 6 years of the event. In 2001 the Grotevants’ were recognized with the “Apple for the Teacher” award by Illinois Farm Bureau and a similar award in 2013, renamed the Ag-In-The-Classroom “Volunteer of the Year” award.

Upon retirement from active farming in 2011, the Grotevants’ moved to Pontiac where she enjoyed golfing, card playing and volunteering at Livingston County Community Food Pantry.

Her life was enhanced by the love she had for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, 64 years of marriage to Charlie, travel to 50 states, and becoming acquainted with nationally known personalities.