gan her teaching career as director of vocal music for the Glenwood Community School District. On December 27, 1959 she was married to Don H. Schoening at Friedens Lutheran Church. Mary Joyce and Don established their home in Glenwood. Mary Joyce continued teaching school full time in Glenwood until February 1961. She again taught full time for Lewis Central School District in the 1965-1966 school year. She continued to substitute teach for several years when the call arose. Mary Joyce and Don moved to Sioux Falls, SD, and then to Chanhassen, MN with their family as Don was transferred for his job in the insurance industry. In March of 1970 they moved back to rural Mineola to join the family farming operation, and Mary Joyce became a hard working farm wife and mother. Mary Joyce was invited to join the Extension Cords, a neighborhood volunteer service organization. Mary Joyce attended the Extension Cords 50th anniversary in the summer of 2015 with her family. While her children were growing up Mary Joyce and Don volunteered as 4-H leaders locally and at the county level where they chaperoned the Teen Club to an exchange trip to Nelson County, VA and the 4-H leadership conference in Washington, D.C. After her children moved away from home Mary Joyce went to work at Park Place in Glenwood in the administrative office from 1990 through 2002. Mary Joyce was very active in St. John Lutheran Church. When the Schoenings returned to Mineola, she volunteered as the Junior Choir director. Mary Joyce assumed the role of Senior Choir Director in 1974 and continued until she handed the reins over in 2005. Around 2001 Mary Joyce helped establish the St. John Bell Choir with a memorial from the Melinda Gibbs family. She later directed the Bell Choir for several years until Christmas of 2016. Besides being involved in St. John's music department, the congregation could always count on Mary Joyce to bring food for all types of breakfasts, lunches, and suppers, church cleaning, and any other volunteer work that was needed. She spent many years making quilts with the women's quilting group at St. John. Mary Joyce volunteered making maidrites for the Red Cross Blood drives in Glenwood. She also attended meetings and events of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia in Lincoln, NE. Mary Joyce passed away peacefully with her family by her side on May 21, 2017 at Bethany Lutheran Home in Council Bluffs, IA, at the age of 81 years, 1 month, and 14 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; and sister Gloria Jacox. Mary Joyce is survived by her husband of 57 years, Don, children Jeff, Beth and Clark; grandchildren Kaitie, Connor, Samantha, and Zackary; and great grandson Quintyn. Other survivors include numerous nieces, nephews, and an untold list of friends.
Loess Hills Funeral and Cremation Center
Glenwood, IA 51534
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