Obituary for Anna "Joy" Jerome

She was born September 14, 1930, in La Crosse County, to Paul and Nayva (Robinson) Dvorak. Joy was a lifelong resident of Bangor until her health led her to move to the Morrow Home in Sparta.

On October 4, 1946, she married Marvin Jerome and they shared 60 years together before his passing in 2008. They were blessed with nine children. Joy was a lifelong member of the Bangor First Presbyterian Church and an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Sparta. She was a strong supporter of the Sparta Area Cancer Support (SACS) and a dedicated volunteer happily donating her time to the Special Olympics, the Log Cabin Thanksgiving Dinner, and reading to students at Bangor Elementary. In her free time, Joy loved crafting, fishing, and dancing.

Survivors include her nine children, Sue (Vern Sanders) Pipkin, Steven Jerome (Kathy), Doug (Renee) Jerome, Gale Jerome (Nancy), Scott (Connie) Jerome, Sharon (Ray) Bashaw, Dawn Erickson (Mike), Vicky Shelmidine, Penny Nordstrom, and one extra, John Kneifl; 20 grandchildren; many great and great-great-grandchildren; sister, Darlene Kincaid; sisters-in-law, Jackie (Dvorak) Olson, Dorothy Christian, Betty Graack, Jane Jerome, Ruthie Jerome, and Karen Jerome; brothers-in-law, Maynard (Karen) Jerome and David (Margaret) Jerome; many, many nieces and nephews; other relatives; and friends.

In addition to her husband, Joy was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Kevin Jerome; great-grandson, Cameron Sokolik; son-in-law, Ron Nordstrom; sister, Renee (Dave) Turnbaugh; brother, Frank Dvorak; brothers-in-law, Raymond (Eleanor) Jerome, Harlan Jerome, Roger Jerome, Sidney Jerome, Manley Christianson, and Ernie Graack; sisters-in-law, Ruby (Norm) Culpitt and Delores (Larry) Adams.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Bangor First Presbyterian Church, 1612 Pearl St., Bangor. Rev. Francis Hewuse will officiate. Burial will follow in Burns Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m., until the time of the memorial service at the church.

A visitation will also be held from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Bangor First Presbyterian Church, 1612 Pearl St., Bangor.

The family would like to extend a big heartfelt thank you to the entire staff of the Morrow Home Community in Sparta for their care and compassion during Joy’s time there.

Online condolences may be offered at this site.