COLUMBUS
Joan Ruth Noblitt Hercamp, 79, of Columbus, passed away Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, at Covered Bridge Health Campus in Seymour.
Born April 5, 1936, in Jackson County, she was the daughter of Jacob Fredrick and Anita Enzinger Noblitt, both of whom preceded her in death. On June 6, 1957, at St. John’s Lutheran Church White Creek, she married Richard Dean “Dick” Hercamp, with whom she shared her birthday. He survives.
Joan was active with the church and school at St. John’s Lutheran Church White Creek, especially while her children and grandsons attended there. She was always volunteering to help with school functions — plays, sports, dinners, teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school. She loved to sing and was a part of the church choir.
Joan was known throughout her life for her artistic talents, generosity and helpfulness.
In past years, she was famous for baking cookies and cakes for every holiday and decorating them beautifully. She would share them at her children’s school and with family and friends. Her talents also included drawing, writing poetry and decorating beautiful gift packages that were so pretty that you didn’t want to open them.
She loved animals. From childhood through her adult life, she always had pets of some kind — dogs, cats, squirrels, raccoons, many of which she had found injured, sick or abandoned and nursed back to health. She was well known and loved for her generosity to others. Helping those in need was her calling. Her special gift was sending cards and notes to those who were ill, suffering a loss or just needed uplifting words.
Other survivors include a son, Gregory Lynn (Cari) Hercamp; daughter, Tamara Jo “Tammy” Hercamp; three grandchildren, Justin (Tirzah) McCrory, Jacob (Emily) Hercamp and Keith (Jessica) Hercamp; two great-grandchildren, Michaela McCrory and Jacob Ryan Hercamp II (born Aug. 16, 2015); her brother, Richard (Bettie) Noblitt; her brother and sister-in-law, Delbert and Marlis Kilgas; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Kimberly Kay Hercamp.
A memorial service will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at St. John’s Lutheran Church White Creek, 16270 S. County Road 300W, Columbus, with Pastor Joshua Cook officiating.
Visitation will be from 4 pm until time of service Tuesday at the church.
Voss Funeral Service handled the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the general fund of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Our Hospice of Southern Indiana or the D.E.B.R.A. Foundation (to support research for the disease her first daughter had).