MIDDLETON - Joyce “Mert” Hinrichs, devoted wife and mother, passed away on September 15, 2026, at Azura Memory Care.

Joyce was born March 20, 1938-the first day of spring. If you knew Joyce, you know how appropriate this is.

Born Joyce Lund, she spent her early childhood in Mount Horeb with her siblings, Donald and Ronna. Due to their mothers illness and the Depression era, at age 7, Joyce and Ronna left home and spent four years at Homme Home in Wittenberg, Wis., before later living with the Pedersen family in Milwaukee. Joyce remembered those years with surprising fondness and remained in contact with the Pedersen’s and a couple of fellow orphans well into adulthood.

At 14, Joyce returned to live with her father in Middleton, where she attended Middleton High School. It was there that she met Jim Hinrichs, the young man who would become her husband and lifelong companion. Joyce also made lasting friendships, including with a couple who attended her and Jim’s 68th Anniversary Celebration at Azura.

Joyce and Jim graduated from Middleton High School in 1956. After Jim joined the Air Force and was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, Joyce spent considerable time with Jim’s mother, learning many of the cooking and baking skills that would become such a large part of Joyce’s life.

Jim returned home in May 1957 to marry Joyce, and she joined him in San Antonio. Their first child, Cheri, was born there. They later returned to Middleton and began their life on the farm, where Billy arrived in 1961 and Tracy in 1962.

Joyce took to farm life as though she had been born to it. In addition to all of that, she somehow found time to sew, wallpaper and paint, bowl in a Tuesday night league, help at church and become a dedicated blood donor.

She loved entertaining. Christmases, birthdays and family gatherings meant big meals prepared by Joyce and a house filled with family and friends.

Somewhere along the way, Joyce acquired the nickname “Myrtle,” and it stuck. Depending on who you were, she was Joyce, Mert, Myrt or Myrtie. Whatever name they called her, people seemed to agree on one thing: “Joyce had a beautiful smile and a happy demeanor.” Her children would add that she could also be plenty strict.

Family was at the center of Joyce’s life, but she and Jim made time for fun as well. There were football and hockey getaways, summer camping trips up north with her beloved brother, Donald, trips to Florida, a cruise and, later in life, trips to Alaska and New York City.

Friday night fish fries became something of an institution. Joyce and Jim shared countless Friday nights with their close circle of friends, rotating among favorite supper clubs and restaurants. Special thanks to Elaine and Harry for helping to carry on the tradition for as long as they could with Joyce.

Life changed when the cattle were sold in the 1990s; Joyce and Jim moved from the old farmhouse they had called home for 40 years, and eventually sold the farm itself in 2008 though the move wasn’t far. But retirement opened the door to another adventure.

For 16 years, Joyce and Jim packed up their fifth-wheel RV and headed to Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu, Ariz. There they built another community of friends, including Chuck and Sheila. Joyce and Sheila formed an especially close bond, becoming like sisters to one another.

Yet Joyce never really stopped being a farm wife.

Her last harvest was in the fall of 2024. With a little help, she climbed the combine ladder and rode alongside Jim for hours, keeping him company and sharing lunch just as she had so many times before. In the fall of 2025, she made one final trip “to the field.” This time she stayed in the car, surrounded by the familiar sights, sounds and smells of the farm. Her message to Jim and Billy was simple and entirely Joyce: “Be careful.”

In her later years, Mert became a favorite among her caregivers at Azura, where her sassiness earned her extra attention. Her family is deeply grateful to Emma, Rhonda, Steph, Ella, Abby, Autumn, Dea, T, Nichole and the many others who cared for her, laughed with her and gave her family more precious time with Mert.

Joyce is survived by her husband of 69 years, Jim Hinrichs; children, Cheri (Jim) Klunick, Bill (Jane) Hinrichs and Tracy (Mike) Yaktus; and sisters-in-law, Wanda Hinrichs and JoAnne Hinrichs. She is also survived by her grandkids, Ali, Emily, Amanda and Andrew; step-grandchildren, Avery and Skylar; and great-grandchildren and multiple nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Helen Lund; in-laws, Roman and Carrie Hinrichs; siblings and spouses, Donald (Mernia) Lund, Ronna (Howard) Tiede, Jeanne (Bill) Wills and Richard Hinrichs.

A Memorial service will be held at ST. LUKE’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7337 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

For those who knew her as Joyce, Mert, Myrt, Myrtie, Mom, Gammie or simply a friend, she leaves behind a lifetime of memories-and a very good reminder to take care of one another.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church or Jane’s Journey Home 4 dogs. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com <http://www.gundersonfh.com>.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761

Joyce "Mert" Hinrichs

March 20, 1938 - September 15, 2026

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