"Joyce - known to me as Virginia's Mom who worked with my Mom. They were both part of the strongest sisterhood on earth - Nursing - quietly working to help those in need to move through the challenge of life changes and illness. Joyce contributed many long hours to the WIndom area health care system and I appreciate this and am glad I knew her. "
In loving memory of
Joyce D. Heffele
September 5, 1927 - October 19, 2013
Joyce (Carter) Heffele was born at home in Amboy Township on September 5, 1927 to Roy and Jennie (Simmons) Carter. She was baptized and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jeffers. On May 31, 1945 she graduated from Jeffers High School. She then attended the Abbott Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis and graduated in 1948.
She met her husband, Harry, at the Jeffers Café and was married to him on February 11, 1949 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Joyce and Harry were parents to five children. Harry died in 1973 as the result of an automobile accident.
Nursing was her career and love. As a young nurse she worked at Lutheran Hospital in Bemidji and Union Hospital in New Ulm. After she was married, she was employed at the Windom Hospital for over twenty years and served as the Hospital Administrator from 1963 to 1972. In 1974 she went to work at the Lakefield Municipal Hospital until her retirement in 1994.
Joyce loved reading and lunching with her retired nursing friends. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior and she enjoyed volunteering there. She was devoted to her family and she loved being a part of their lives.
Joyce is survived by her five children: Virginia and her husband Ted Fuller, of Glyndon, MN; Bradley and his wife Annie, of Wasilla, AK; Deborah Ljungkull of White Bear Lake, MN; Robin Buller of Champlin, MN and Michele Haas and her fiancé Dale Roewe of Lakefield, MN and Laurens, IA. She is also survived by: 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; her sister, Beverly Quast of Mounds View, MN and her brother, Junior Carter and his wife, Beverly of Kansas City, KS; four sisters-in-law, Martha Brandt of Mountain Lake, MN, Eva Goossen of Trimont, MN, Vicki Carter of Ontario, CA and Ruth Stencel of Albert Lea, MN, and one brother-in-law, Gus Heffele of Jeffers, MN; special family friend, Jerry Moon; many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and patients.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Roy ('61) and Jennie ('78); her husband, Harry ('73); her brothers, Leon, Dick, Neal and Homer; her sisters, Madge Missling, Buelah, Addie Pohl and Harla; three sons-in-law, Rodney Buller, Steve Haas and Jon Ljungkull; her parents-in-laws, Gottfried ('60) and Eva Heffele ('49); Harry's sisters, Kate Smit, Mountain Lake, MN, Lydia Hildebrandt, Mountain Lake, MN, Marie Wolf, Twin Falls, ID, Mollie Elsing, Springfield, MN, Anna Willaby, Albert Lea, MN, Esther Bertilson, Seattle, WA; his brothers, two infant Heffele boys, Gottfried Heffele, Mountain Lake, MN and Fred Heffele, Mountain Lake, MN.
Remember the Love
Tributes
"To the family of Joyce we give our sympathy in the loss of your Mom. Leo and I have lots of memories growing up with your family. Your parents were nice people, I remember the fun times Michele we had when my Mom use to take care of you. "
"Rick and I were so sorry to hear about the passing of Joyce. She was one sparky lady. Her journey on earth is complete and now she is at peace and enjoying an amazing adventure. Our prayers and sympathy."
"Robin, you and your family have my deepest sympathy and prayers on the loss of your mom. "
"Michele, sympathy to you and your family in the loss of your mother. "
"To Robin and family, I am sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. It is hard to lose a mom."
"Sending the whole family our prayers and sympathy. "
"My deepest sympathy is with all of you in the loss of your Mom. Will always remember her as a very dear aunt, with something good to say about everyone. May God bless you all."
"Prayers and love at this time -- I will always remember growing up with this family."
"Michele, our love and support to your family. We will see you at your mother's service on Wednesday."
"We will remember your family as our neighbors in Windom our kids played with you when you wee younger. Your Mother was a very sweet lady. "
"So very sorry to hear of Joyces passing. Keeping the Heffele Family in my thoughts and prayers."
"My sympathy goes out to your family. Joyce and I worked many shifts together at Lakefield. We had many trips back and forth from Windom. She was a great mentor for me."