Joyce Ann Kendall 85, of Elmwood, died Sunday Aug. 25, 2024, at the Spring Valley Health & Rehab Center in Spring Valley.
Joyce was born Sept. 4, 1938, to Elmer and Nora (Schutz) Holcomb in Ellsworth, Wis. At the age of four the family moved to his parents’ farm in Rock Elm Township. She attended the Rock Elm Elementary School and Elmwood High School, graduating in 1956. In July 1957, Joyce married Jerry Kendall at the Rock Elm United Methodist Church. They had been classmates for all their years in school. Soon they made their home on a farm in Rock Elm next to the farm where she had grown up. They raised their three children there (Steven, Scott and Cara).
In 1967, Joyce continued her education at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in education and taught first grade at the Elmwood Elementary school for 31 years.
Joyce’s family was first and foremost in her heart. She enjoyed years of spending time with her grandchildren at the farm and at the family cabin along with going to many, many events to watch their activities. Joyce also enjoyed her career of teaching and impacted so many individuals as a first grade teacher in Elmwood. She was devoted to the Rock Elm United Methodist Church and spent her lifetime serving there in multiple capacities which included teaching Bible and Sunday school and working on homemade ice cream socials. With Jerry she had enjoyed dancing, camping, traveling to many places, especially visiting their son, Steve in Alaska. They took great pleasure in all of the good times they shared at their cabin with family and friends.
Joyce is survived by sons, Steven Kendall of Hilo, Hawaii, Scott (Sheryl) Kendall of Elmwood and daughter, Cara (Keith) Getschel of River Falls, grandchildren, Denver (Adam) Garfield, Ashlee Kendall, Trent (Sam) Kendall, Lee (Rachel) Getschel, Lindsay (Chris) Getschel and Lexy Getschel; great grandchildren, Macie, Molly, Eli, Stanley, Honor and Harrison. She is also survived by sisters, Janet Huebner of Ellsworth and Doris (John) Hassel of Vadnais Heights, Minn.; sister-in-law Diann Holcomb, along with many nieces and nephews.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry in 2019; her parents, brothers, Leroy and Dale Holcomb; brothers-in-law, Lavere Wolske and Jerry Huebner; sisters-in-law Joyce Wolske and Doris Holcomb.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday Aug. 30, 2024, at Rock Elm United Methodist Church, rural Elmwood. Burial will be in the Poplar Hill Cemetery-Rock Elm.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Rhiel Funeral Home in Elmwood and one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.
Online condolences may be made at www.rhielfuneralhome.com.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Elmwood is serving the family.
