Joyce Mary Stahlecker

Joyce M. Stahlecker, 87, of Albion, NE passed away Saturday, April 13, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society-Albion in Albion, NE.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at Zion Lutheran Church in Albion, NE with Rev. Mary Frohs officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Albion, NE. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE.

Joyce Mary (Higgins) Stahlecker was born on July 20, 1931, to John William Higgins and Ada Lura (Brown) Higgins at their home near Brocksburg, Nebraska. She attended country school, eventually boarding in Butte to attend school there, graduating from Butte High School in 1948. She taught country school before marrying Howard Lavern Stahlecker on June 15, 1951.

They had three children: 2 sons, Kenneth born on July 17, 1952 in Lynch, Nebraska; and Dennis born in Gregory, South Dakota, on December 20, 1954; and a daughter, Peggie born on June 1, 1963, also in Gregory.

Joyce was a stay at home mother for many years, taking care of a huge garden and canning food for her family.

Joyce and her husband bought the Gregory Dry Cleaners in 1968. Joyce worked alongside her husband for several years. In 1972, the family moved to Albion, Nebraska, as Howard began working for Northern Propane there. Joyce worked in the Hospital kitchen, before joining the staff at the Wolf Memorial Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Albion. She worked as a nurse aide, eventually receiving training to pass mediations. She loved her work there, and met many friends along the way. Her job there was a source of pride for her, and she remained close to many co-workers. Even after she retired, she returned to work as a dietary aide in the kitchen.

The love of Joyce's life, Howard, passed away in 1981. Although she enjoyed the fellowship of others, she never remarried.

Joyce was a member of the Albion Arts Council and the Albion Red Hat group. She attended the Zion Lutheran Church in Albion, serving on various committees and groups, and helping with Bible school.

She was a lifelong crafter, even before crafting was cool. Her interests included ceramics, quilting, crocheting, knitting, and replicating crafts she bought at craft shows. She enjoyed watching craft shows on TV and often made projects with her sister, Lorraine, or her daughter, Peggie. She always had craft things at her house for the grandchildren to make their own creations.

Joyce entered the Samaritan Estates Assisted Living facility in 2014, before moving to the Wolf Memorial nursing home in 2015. She passed away there on April 13, 2019.

Survivors include her children: Ken (Becky) Stahlecker of Albion; Dennis Stahlecker of Delmont, South Dakota; and Peggie (David) Derickson of Spencer, Nebraska; as well as her grandchildren: Brian (Annie) Stahlecker and son Colton of Sidney, Nebraska; Jordan Derickson of Spencer, Nebraska; Alexandra Stahlecker of Albion, and Chelsea Bradshaw of Fresno, CA. She is also survived by her sister, Frances (Robert) Peppel of Gregory, South Dakota; sisters-in-law Helen Higgins of Butte, Nebraska; Bernice Spitzenberger of Houston, TX; Berneita Oliver of Houston, TX; Marjorie Zauner of Bakersfield, CA; Norma Murray of Yankton, SD; and Barbara Stahlecker of Napa, CA; and brothers-in-law Milo (Lynell) Stahlecker of Springfield, SD; and Earl (Joyce) Stahlecker of Yankton, SD. She also leaves to mourn many nieces and nephews, including a very special nephew, Kevin Peppel of Winner, SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John & Ada Higgins; her husband's parents, Walter & Vera Stahlecker; her husband, Howard; her brothers Max (Bud) Higgins and Mervin Higgins; her sisters-in-law Geraldine (Tarr) Stahlecker, Irene (Nieman Sparks) Stahlecker, and Janet (Davis) Higgins; her brothers-in-law Larry Spitzenberger, Robert Stahlecker, Harold Stahlecker, Harold Zauner, and Wilbur Oliver.