Joyce Marie Bessler, 89, formerly of Toulon, IL, passed away peacefully at Carle Proctor Hospital in Peoria, IL, on April 27th, 2026.

She was born on March 16, 1937, the daughter of the late Ira Sylvester Moreland & Marie Katherine (Otto) Moreland.

Joyce is survived by her children Jim (Rayanne) Bessler, Jeff (Lisa) Bessler, Jodi (Scott) Turnbull, Jay (Melinda) Bessler as well as 9 grandchildren, Audra (Chris) Parsino, Jonathan (Carly) Bessler, Melissa (Tim) Meils, Austin (Zaida) Bessler, Samantha (Holden) Mercer, Josh (Bethann) Turnbull, Cameron (Sydney) Turnbull, Miranda Bessler, & Olivia Bessler. She is also survived by 10 beautiful great-grandchildren Lincoln, Tinley, Harper, Hayden, Evelyn, Owen, Beau, Tripp, Bennett, & Liam, as well as nieces & nephews that she loved dearly. She was also preceded in death by her Aunt Emma (Art) Ide, brothers, Marion & Ken Moreland, her niece, Sandy Moreland, and her beloved son, Joseph Bessler.

She was a graduate of Woodruff High School and held many jobs, but she had two favorites she often spoke of. One was driving a school bus for the Sparland School District. She loved driving her "kids" to school and back home safely. She still liked to tell stories about those experiences. The other favorite was her position as Concierge at the Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria. She loved the residents & was very skilled at managing the front desk area responsibilities all while taking care of the residents’ needs. She knew all of them by name & she remained friends with some of the residents until her passing. She retired from Lutheran Hillside Village at 85 years old! She was no stranger to hard work her whole life.

Joyce enjoyed a good Romance Novel, playing games, cards & doing puzzles. She had a great sense of humor, and enjoyed a good laugh, as well as getting a good laugh from something she said. She liked listening to "old style" Country Music like Loretta & Conway, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and others. She loved having her family around her and enjoyed sharing their accomplishments with her friends.

Joyce led a long life filled with both hardships and blessings. She found solace in her faith and was a member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Bradford, IL. She requested no formal services, only a simple cremation and the scattering of her cremated remains.