Wilma "Joyce" (Falls) Frederick

Joyce Nash Frederick, age 101, a Mishawaka, IN resident for over 80 years, joined her loved ones in Heaven on June 3, 2026.

Joyce Falls was born September 11, 1924, in Sanilac County Michigan to Michael “Mike” and Winifred (Muir) Falls and was one of six children.

She graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1941 and then attended Port Huron Business College where she met Coast Guardsman Robert “Bob” Nash. Joyce and Bob were married April 27, 1945, in New York City, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. They moved to Mishawaka in 1948. They had two children, Judith Ann, in 1947 and Terry Michael in 1948. After seven years of marriage, Bob died very suddenly of polio in 1952.

Four or so years later, she met Forrest Frederick, a manager at Ball Band. They were married on April 13, 1957, at St. Peter Lutheran church, in Mishawaka. They had a son, David Edward, in 1959.

Joyce lost her long-time companion, Forrest, in 2013 after many happy years together. Joyce was a wonderful and loving caregiver to Forrest.

Joyce was very active throughout her lifetime. She was one of the charter members of the Normain Homemakers. Besides working many years in circulation and advertising at the Mishawaka Enterprise, she also volunteered at Beiger Mansion as a docent. She was the Executive Director for the Downtown Mishawaka Association.

Awards she won over the years include; American Business Woman’s “Woman of the Year” and the Mishawaka Enterprise George Awarde. She was well admired for her civic work and was given a Key to the City of Mishawaka by Mayor Robert Buetter.

Joyce served on the Building Committee for the present-day St. Peter Lutheran Church. She also served on the committee that helped garner support to save Mary Phillips School.

Joyce loved to dance from Ballroom to line dance, and clogging. For fun she loved to play Bridge, Euchre, and Dominos.

IN 1990 she began her work as a patient volunteer for Center for Hospice Care and received her 25-year service pin in 2016.

She is survived by her daughter Judy (husband Dave Lomis) of Williamstown, MA, one son, David Frederick of Mishawaka, IN and several nieces and nephews.

Her extended family included the Tiet NGO family of Vietnam which includes Tiet and wife Bau Pham, and children Tuan, Huong, Tu, and Tung. They were sponsored by St. Peter Lutheran Church to come to the United States in 1996.

Joyce and Forrest made them feel very welcome upon their arrival in the United States. This kind family never forgot “Grandma” and “Grandpa” on holidays and special occasions, bringing flowers, checking in on them, and making them feel loved.

 Funeral Services will be held on Monday, June 8, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 437 East Dragoon Trail, Mishawaka, with a visitation being held from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Pastor Bryan Borger will officiate the services. Burial will take place at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger. Palmer Funeral Home – Bubb Chapel is assisting the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka IN 46545 or St. Peter Lutheran Church, 437 East Dragoon Trail, Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Online condolences can be made at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.