Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer

 

Joyce Meyer, age 64, of Spillville, IA, passed away on Saturday, November 20, 2021 at her home in Spillville with her family by her side after losing her battle with bone cancer. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at 11 a.m. in the St Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Spillville, Iowa with interment at the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, Spillville. Arrangements were by Schluter Balik Funeral Home, Decorah, IA.

Joyce was born on November 17, 1957 to Linus and Ruth (Uhlenhake) Elsbernd.  She grew up on a farm near Calmar, IA and graduated from South Winneshiek High School in 1976.  After high school, she attended what is now known as NICC in Calmar where she earned her clerical degree.  Joyce was united in marriage to Kevin Meyer in 1978 and moved into their current home in Spillville in 1979 where they raised their two children: Lisa and Scott.  Joyce was a Girl Scout and 4H leader and also worked at the Spillville Library in her early years where she served as a board member.  She also spent time working at Bily Clocks and was a teachers aid at St. Wenceslaus School.  She later earned a degree to be a certified public librarian and went on to work as a librarian for South Winneshiek High School for many years.  She was happy to be a librarian and help all of the students.  Every day she would come home talking about her kids.  She tried to give the students a place to be heard and feel safe.  She was always amazed at how many of them remembered her to this day.            When she had her first photo assignment for a national magazine, she decided that photography could be her new fulltime work of love. She wrote life style articles for the Calmar Courier including her photography for a while. She wasn’t sure she could do the writing but they told her that her photography would carry the load.  Joyce continued with her writing and photography, and did photo shoots on location for businesses including drone photos if needed, websites, brochures etc.  She also traveled the country doing art shows and her work can be seen on 14 national magazine covers, in various magazines, billboards, businesses and websites. Joyce also freelanced for the Cedar Rapids Gazette in her spare time.  It was always exciting when she got a large white envelope from Our Iowa Magazine in the mail as this meant that her pictures were published in the next issue. This had become a common occurrence over the last few years one of which was the front cover of a female cardinal.  Joyce used her work to tell the story of the beauty in nature that surrounds us and invited you to walk with her on the journey that took in everything from vistas of the world to tiny butterflies, birds and flowers.

She spent a lot of time going on adventures and taking pictures, playing games, cards, fishing, vacations and golfing. She liked to brag that she had the first hole in one in the family and it was on the longest par 3 at South Winn. Country Club. 

It made her sad that she wouldn’t be around for her children and to watch her grandchildren grow up.  She enjoyed all the people she met through life, work and her business and appreciated all the people that helped her when she was ill who are too many to mention. 

Joyce wants us to take joy and pride in even small victories and don’t overlook all that we take for granted.

To see her work and more of her history you can go to her website: Joyce Meyer Photography | Midwest Fine Art Photography by Joyce Meyer

She is survived by her husband Kevin. Her daughter: Lisa Meyer, Des Moines, IA. Son: Scott Meyer, Des Moines, IA. Grandchildren Cayden Keigan, Byron & Mira Meyer.  Siblings: Juanita Cole, Cedar Rapids, IA; Jim (Margaret) Elsbernd, Ossian, IA; Keith (Sandra) Elsbernd, Calmar, IA; Eileen (John) Schissel, Fertile, IA.  Brother-in-law: Charlie (Kitty) Meyer, Calmar, IA.  Sister-in-law: Rosemary Meyer, Cedar Rapids, IA along with many nieces and nephews.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents: Linus and Ruth (Uhlenhake) Elsbernd.  Father and mother-in-law: Raymond and Josephine Meyer. Brothers-in-law: Harry Cole, Robert Meyer and David Meyer.

 

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