Joy Dinius

Born December 26, 1934, Joy was the youngest of 3 girls born to Anton and Nora Stebner, in Plymouth Indiana. Joy's first home was "the farm" near Inwood Indiana. The farmhouse had no running water and no electricity. Although she was young, she helped with what she could such as picking beans and berries and collecting eggs from the chicken coop.

When she was in grade school, her family moved to Lapaz Indiana. At the age of 17 she graduated from Lapaz High School with her class of 26. Joy was smart, articulate, and a quick learner. Immediately after High School, Joy took her first job as a receptionist / office assistant in a doctor's office.

One Spring Sunday in 1953, the paster at the First Church of God, advised a man named Max Dinius that he should introduce himself to Joy, which he did. On September 17th, 1953 Joy and Max were united in marriage. Five days later Max was laid off from Studebaker. Fortunately, his lovely bride told a friend, who suggested that Max apply at Indiana and Michigan Electric. Max went on to work for I&M for 40 years.

In 1963 Max was transferred from South Bend, Indiana to St. Joseph, Michigan. Joy and Max bought "the barn" and started a decade long renovation project that resulted in a uniquely beautiful home.

Joy and Max attended The First Church of God, where they made many great friends including Arden and Thelma. The two couples bought some property near Manistee, Michigan where the two families and many others spent scores of weekends fishing, relaxing, playing cards, and eating smores. The two couples also started a successful small business together. A fireplace / patio furniture store known as The Warming Place.

Joy was active in the First Church of God for most of her life. She went on several mission trips, almost always to build or renovate churches or housing. These trips ranged from Canada to Barbados, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Joy and Max also went to Homestead Florida in the wake of Hurricane Andrew to help with the cleanup effort. Joy helped many less fortunate people in Berrien County Michigan with donations of food, clothing, preparing meals, doing laundry, she'd literally do anything to help those less fortunate.

After moving to Colorado, Joy and Max attended New Hope Community Church where they met many good friends, including Paul and Sue. Paul was a wood worker who along with Max and a few others formed a group known as the Toy Makers. Over the years they built thousands of wooden toys for needy kids. The men would build the toys, but it was Joy and the other wives that painted each one by hand.

Joy was a woman of deep faith. Her youngest son, (the uncontested black sheep of the family), is convinced to this day that he only survived his dare devil antics due to the fervent prayers of his mother. In 2012 when Max was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Joy added a request to her nightly prayers. She began fervently asking God that she be granted the health and strength to care for Max until his last day.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Donna, and June, her husband Max, and her firstborn son, Tim. Joy is survived by her youngest son Dennis, and her daughter-in-law Debby.

Joy's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click here to view the service.

Contributions can be made to:
The Comitis Crisis Center, Inc.
EIN: 74-2348147