Joyce Ann Henke

Joyce Ann Henke, age 90, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2026, in her home in Tampa, Florida. Born on December 27, 1935, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Emil H. and Margaret M. Diedrich, she spent her early childhood in Ludlow, Kentucky, before moving to Lakeside Park in Fort Mitchell. A self-described tomboy, she attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and later graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Park Hills, Kentucky, in 1953, where she formed lifelong friendships with classmates who gathered for decades as the “Giddy Girls.”

On August 4, 1956, Joyce married James Henke. Together they shared 26 years of marriage and raised five children, first in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later in Bloomington, Indiana. Devoted to her family, she created a warm and welcoming home while embracing an entrepreneurial spirit. She and Jim operated a summer fishing camp on their lakeside property and later founded Nero’s Olde World Chili, a beloved downtown Bloomington restaurant known for its Cincinnati-style chili and friendly atmosphere. After Jim’s death in 1982, Joyce and their youngest son, Rob, continued the business for more than a year in his honor.

In 1985, Joyce moved to Tampa, Florida, where she built a new life in the Bay Pointe community. She worked as a catering director at the Holiday Inn and the Pickett, forming lasting friendships. She remained active and social, enjoying skating, kayaking, tennis, biking, poolside gatherings, and sunset cocktails. A longtime and dedicated member of Incarnation Roman Catholic Church, she volunteered in many capacities, including coaching Special Olympics, assisting in the church office, and working at polling stations. She also served multiple terms as president of the Bay Pointe Condominium Association board.

Joyce is survived by her children Jamie Taylor (John), Jeff Henke (Richie), Tim Henke (Erika), and Tammy Rowland (Eddie), and daughter-in-law Ellen Henke. She was the proud grandmother of nineteen and great-grandmother of nineteen. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, son Rob Henke, her parents, and her sister Elaine Diedrich Collins.