Joy M. Gerig, 85 years old of Ossian, Indiana, passed away on Friday, March 9, 2012 in the St. Anne Home & Retirement Center located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born on Thursday, April 22, 1926 in Auburn, Indiana the daughter of the late Jacob A. Gerig and the late Alice G. (Carnahan) Gerig. Joy was a graduate of Spencerville High School Class of 1943 and she graduated from Fort Wayne Bible College in 1952 from the standard diploma Bible course. She received her Bachelor of Religious Education in 1966 from Fort Wayne Bible College and Master of Science in Education in 1977 from St. Francis College in Fort Wayne. At the age of 16, Joy became involved in the North Ohio Conference United Brethren Camp at Hillsdale, Michigan. For over twenty-five years, she worked with that program developing and directing the youth Camp. She was a member of Hopewell United Brethren in Christ Church in Auburn, Indiana; where she was a pianist, children & youth worker and served as Associate Pastor. Joy had been a piano teacher at Castle Music Studios in Fort Wayne from 1945 to 1953. She was then the associate pastor at Hopewell United Brethren in Christ Church from 1953 to 1959. She served as Director of Christian Service at Fort Wayne Bible College from 1959 to 1990 when she retired. She organized the National Association of Christian Service Personnel and served as its Vice President from 1981 to 1985 and held the office of President from 1985 to 1993. Surviving are her nephew, Brent (Joanne) Brenneman of Spencerville, Ohio; nephew, Brice (Lydia) Brenneman of St. Mary's , Ohio; dear friend, Joseph Kirkman of Hoagland, Indiana; a great niece; five great nephews; and one great great-nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob A. & Alice G. Gerig; a sister, Carol Myrth Brenneman; and an aunt & uncle, Frank & Inez (Carnahan) Dosch, who were like parents to Joy. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 12, 2012, in the First Missionary Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana with Dr. David Biberstein officiating. Interment will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Auburn, Indiana. Friends will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the First Missionary Church, 701 West Rudisill Boulevard, Fort Wayne and 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Monday prior to the service at the church. Preferred memorials are to Fort Wayne Alumni and Friends Resource Center in memory of Joy and her parents, Jacob & Alice Gerig; Hopewell United Brethren in Christ Church Missions Fund in Auburn, Indiana; or the First Missionary Church Missions Fund in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
