Joan Ruth Sawyer

Joan Ruth (DePuy) Balvich Sawyer, age 86, of Fort Pierce, Florida passed away on December 9, 2015 at her son’s home in Rensselaer, Indiana. Joan was born July 26, 1929, in San Diego, California, the daughter of John C. DePuy and Marjorie Ruth (Bateson) Conkle. Joan was raised in San Diego where she attended Grossmont High School

Joan had lived in Chicago, Clarendon Hills, Ill., Berwyn, Ill., Dayton, Ohio, Monticello, Ind. and most recently in Fort Pierce, Florida for 18 years.

Joan raised her children in Berwyn where she served as the President of the local PTA, and was a Girl Scout leader and a Boy Scout den mother. She was a member of the Berwyn Moose Lodge where she enjoyed portraying both Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. An active member of the Republican Party, Joan had the honor of introducing Ronald Reagan at the Republican Day Dinner in DuPage County, Illinois, when he was Governor of California. She enjoyed being a Real Estate agent while living in Berwyn and was featured in a local magazine for her interior design talents.

Relocating to the Midwest, Joan met and married Alexander “Steve” Sawyer in Monticello, Indiana in 1996. They enjoyed life together, later moving to Fort Pierce, Florida.
Joan was an active member of the Indian River Presbyterian Church in Fort Pierce where she served as a Deacon of the church. She was a sports enthusiast with a competitive spirit, was an avid golfer and she and Steve held the honor of being Bocce Ball Champions. While living in Fort Pierce Joan became the Chairperson of the Crop Hunger Walk in Florida which was the largest fund raiser to feed the needy.

Joan was very proud of her family whom she loved and cherished.

Surviving with her husband Steve and their children, John Balvich, Dr. James Balvich, Joan Kane, Ronald Sawyer, Marc Sawyer, Michael Sawyer, Douglas Sawyer and Thomas Sawyer. Also surviving are 29 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and two brothers, William “Bill” (wife Judi) DePuy and John DePuy, both of San Diego, CA, along with many loving nieces and nephews.
Joan was preceded in death by her father and mother, son, Jeffrey Balvich, a sister, Marjorie Eggleston, brother, Quentin “Roger” DePuy, and brother and sister-in-law, J.C. & Mary Webber.

Services: Visitation will be held on Monday, December 21, 2015 from 10:00-11:00 AM with a service to follow at Indian River Presbyterian Church, Fort Pierce. Interment will take place at Roselawn Memorial Cemetery, Terra Haute, Indiana.