Joyce E. Schrad

Joyce Schrad, 92 of Albion, NE, died Saturday, December 9, 2023 at the Emerald Nursing and Rehab in Columbus, NE.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 14, 2023, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Albion, NE with Fr. Mark Tomasiewicz officiating.  Interment will follow at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery.   Visitation will be held 5:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the church with a 7:00 p.m. wake service.

Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Wolf Memorial Good Samaritan Society – Albion (www.good-sam.com/locations/albion), Alzheimer's Association of Nebraska (www.alz.org/nebraska) or The Arc of Platte County (www.arcofplattecounty.com).

Joyce Elaine Schrad, daughter of Harold D. and Vera V. (McCone) Rosenbaum, was born February 4, 1931, on the family farm near Cedar Rapids, NE. She attended rural Boone County schools, including Plum Creek for ninth and tenth grades before attending Albion High School, graduating with Normal Training in 1947. She attended Wayne State Teachers college to receive her teaching certificate before teaching at rural schools in Boone County for three years.

On January 30, 1951, Joyce was united in marriage to Robert J. "Bob" Schrad at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Albion.  They lived in Petersburg until 1957 when they moved to Albion. While raising their five children, Joyce worked at the Wolf Memorial Good Samaritan Home in Albion. She held various positions including nurse aide and activities director while working to receive her degree in Social Work, eventually serving the facility in that capacity until retiring on December 31, 1992.

In her retirement, she helped her son Steve at Schrad's Greenhouse and helped care for her grandchildren. She was a member of St. Michael's Church and an active member of St. Michael's Altar Society. She enjoyed time with friends in various card clubs, the Red Hat Society and square dancing with Bob. She and Bob loved traveling and enjoyed trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, and various places within the lower 48 states. They completed many puzzles together in the winter months and enjoyed volunteering at the Food Pantry and delivering Meals on Wheels around the community. They were nominated for and honored with the Omaha World Herald "Good Neighbor Award". Joyce was an avid reader, often completing an entire novel in a day. She enjoyed playing solitaire and will long be remembered for her famous potato salad.

Joyce is survived by five children: Kathy (Bruce) Karges of Columbus, NE; Jerry (Jan) Schrad of Bloomington, IL; Mike (Dianah) Schrad of Ainsworth, NE; Steve (Kristine) Schrad of Albion, NE; Kevin (Kelly) Schrad of Lincoln, NE; 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law: Dorie Schrad of Columbus, NE; two brothers-in-law: Walt Schrad of Columbus, NE; Len Schrad of Colorado Springs, CO; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob in 2012, and three brothers: Ivan, Dale, and Lowell Rosenbaum.