Joyce Janet Monroe

Joyce Janet Heidger-Monroe went to be with our heavenly father on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at the age of 90. Joyce was born August 19, 1930 to Leonard and Florence Heidger in Madison County, Wisconsin. Joyce married James (Jim) Monroe, was married 22 years and had four sons.

Joyce’s professional career began working in the County Jail for the Sheriff's department and continued working to assist adults with special needs. She later owned and operated a business called Midge's catering truck and enjoyed serving all the construction sites throughout San Bernardino County. Joyce finally found her true calling when she received her Real Estate Brokers license in 1973. Quickly thereafter, she started Smoke Tree Junction Real Estate office and thrift store in Pinon Hills, CA. She spent the next 40 years selling real estate and talking to the patrons that would come in and shop and some that would just come in to visit with her. She retired and sold Smoke Tree Junction at age 75, but maintained her broker’s license. Not surprisingly, Joyce got bored at home in retirement and went back to work as a caregiver to the elderly by visiting their homes and helping in any way she could.

Joyce was known for her genuine love of life and especially animals. In fact, she would help pay for vet bills of her friends’ animals and would carry food and water in her truck in case she saw a stray animal in need. Her positive and endearing nature were obvious to anyone who knew her. She truly enjoyed the people in her life even to the very end. Joyce made all of our lives better and she will be greatly missed.

Joyce is survived by her son Glen J. Monroe and his wife Isabel, and her son Gerald (Jerry) Monroe and his wife Glenda Monroe. She was preceded in death by her two sons Gregory Monroe and Gary Monroe, her ex-husband James Monroe, her siblings Kenneth, Dorothy, Delores, Germaine, Peter, Leonard, Robert, and parents Leonard and Florence Heidger.

Those left to cherish her memories are her two sisters Shirley and Darlene and many nieces and nephews. Joyce has three grandsons Edward Dalton, Jeremy Monroe, and Jerry Monroe, many step-granddaughters and great grandchildren.