Joyce (Jo) Ann Dunning age 92, passed from mortality to eternal life on September 13, 2022. The cause of death was simply too many birthdays.  She died peacefully after transitioning from her home to the excellent care of Hill Country Memorial Hospital & Hospice. During those seven days, she was visited by many loved ones.

"Grandma JoJo" as she was affectionately known, was born on April 24, 1930 in San Antonio, to Olga Durst (nee Lang) and William "Willie" Arthur Durst.  She was preceded in death by Sanford Frank "Tunk" Dunning Jr. on January 27 ^th 2015. He was her husband of 61 years.  Family remaining to cherish her memory are her son Randall "Randy" Durst Dunning, his wife Karen (nee Johnston) and their four adult daughters: twins Manda Johnston and Meleah Durst, Joanna Lewis and Elenya Honea Dunning, and by her daughter Sandra Delaine Fonder and Sandra's son William Aelred and daughter Hannah Marie Fonder, along with their father James P. Fonder and his wife, Corky.  Joyce has two great granddaughters, with a great grandson on the way. Like olive branches around her table, her children rise up and call her blessed. Psalm 128

Joyce was a 1948 graduate of Brackenridge High School in San Antonio, TX.  She was on the drill team and was affiliated with the National Honor Society, English, History and Commercial societies and Sigma Epsilon.  After high school she took short hand and one college semester in business classes.  She worked with Russ & Company Investments in San Antonio until leaving to marry 1 ^st Lt. Sanford Frank "Tunk" Dunning, who met her through one of their mutual Airforce friends. Tunk's buddy had dated Joyce and said he was sorrowful that he had introduced them.

Jo and Tunk were married on July 2, 1954 at McClellan AFB in Sacramento CA.   Tunk told Jo, who lived with her parents in San Antonio, that he wanted to propose in person.  So, she flew out to California, where he was stationed.  She carried along her wedding dress, made by her mother.  After the official proposal, they were married in the Pioneer Congregational Church, with a reception in the Officer's Club. They honeymooned to Monterey, Carmel and Yosemite Park. They resided at 2421 Marconi in Sacramento while Tunk continued serving in the USAF.

While in Sacramento, Joyce worked in the offices of Attorney General Edmund "Pat" Gerald Brown Sr. (Pat Brown).  He became governor and was the father of future governor Jerry Brown. "Are you one of those good Texas Democrats?", he asked.  She replied, thinking she would be fired straight away, "No I am a Republican."  She did not get fired. Through out her life she continued to be involved in Republican politics and activism, where ever she lived

Tunk finished his stint as Captain of a B29 Bomber in the USAF.  When he was hired by United Airlines as a pilot, they moved to Elmhurst, Illinoi where Randy was born, and then to Broomfield Colorado where Sandy was born.  Later, as United Airlines Captain of a Boeing 737-200, the family settled in Crystal Lake, IL.  They lived first at 611 Devonshire and then later custom built a beautiful home on 661 Broadway.

In Crystal Lake, Joyce excelled in real estate sales, working for Baird and Warner. Today B&W is still Illinois' largest family-owned independent real estate services company.

Joyce was a deaconess of First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake and sang in the choir.  She was active in the McHenry County Service League, played piano for the Crystal Lake Rotary Club, and hosted a foreign exchange student from Canada with the Rotary Foreign Exchange Program.

Tunk's widowed mother Gladys Edna Dunning (nee Westwood) lived with them for her last years.  Jo Dunning was not only willing to care for her mother-in-law, but was a devoted daughter to her own parents, visiting them regularly in Fredericksburg, TX.

Upon Tunk's retirement from United, Tunk and Jo then moved to Fredericksburg, TX to help to her parents in their elder years. Tunk designed, and oversaw the construction of their home on her parents' ranch property off Reeh Weinheimer Rd. After Olga "Oma" Durst was widowed, she joined Tunk and Jo in their home, and lived to a few weeks short of 102 years.

In Fredericksburg, Joyce continued her acumen for sales with a home business in nutritional and natural health. This became her passion and focus the rest of her long life.  Most notable was her work with Mannatech Inc, with which she attained All Star and Presidential level.

During her lifetime Jo enjoyed modeling for fashion and photography, snow skiing, swimming, tennis and enjoyed travel. She was active with the Gillespie County Republican clubs. She was generous in giving time and resources to charities and church.  In Fredericksburg she attended the Evangelical Free Church for many years, and more recently the Wild Ride Ministries Cowboy Church in Harper.

Joyce's life message is "Trust that God will give you the grace to do the things He wants you to do. Jesus whose name is above all names, Messiah, Savior, Emanuel God with us, gives us grace, through His atonement on the cross for our sins, to be reconciled with God and with each other for eternity. John 3:16 and John 17 Jesus has come to restore all that has been lost."

Her children and grand-children are unanimous in their agreement that above all Joyce Ann Dunning (nee Durst) was a great mom. "We do not say goodbye, but see you later!"

A memorial reception is planned for Saturday November 26, 2022, from 12:00p.m. - 2:00p.m. Any friends or extended family wishing to attend, should contact her daughter-in-law Karen by email getitdonedunning@gmail.com . Write "Memorial" in the subject heading.  Karen lived with and cared for Joyce, for over a year preceding her passing. You may also call Fredericksburg Funeral Home for additional contact information.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, consider donating to either the Mannatech's M5M Charitable Foundation to help malnourished children receive proper nutrition, or the Wild Ride Ministries (WRM) Cowboy Church in Harper,

M5M contributions may be made online at www.m5mfoundation.org and click donate under the pull-down menu in the upper right-hand corner. Call (817) 266-9206 for questions.

Checks to the cowboy church can be made out to Wild Ride Ministries and mailed to WRM P.O. Box 549 Harper TX 78631, or donations can be made by credit card with the pull-down menu on their website www.wildrideministries.net

On their pulpit is written "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body.  But, rather to skid in breathless, thoroughly used up, really worn out and loudly proclaiming "Wow what a wild ride!"