Joyce Nelson

Wednesday, April 3, 2024 2:23 pm

Joyce Ann (Feickert) Nelson, age 80, of Decorah, passed away peacefully next to her husband, Milton (Mick) Nelson on his 85th birthday on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, at Glenwood Lutheran Church, with Rev. Matthew Rossler presiding. Burial will be in the Pontoppidan Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 12, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water St., in Decorah; and after 10 a.m. at the church on Saturday morning.

Joyce was born on Sept. 11, 1943, to Theodore and Irene (Meyer) Feickert. Joyce was baptized and confirmed at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. She attended school at the Red House Country School in Nordness and graduated High School from South Winneshiek Community School with the class of 1961.

Joyce met Milton at the Drive-In Restaurant in 1960 in Postville. Milton and Joyce were married on July 15, 1961. They have been married over 62 years.  Five boys were born from this reunion: Rickey, Kent, Brian, Chad and Jason. The boys would jokingly ask Joyce, “Which son is your favorite?” and this would start a fired-up conversion and end with Joyce saying “I have no favorites DAMMIT” while laughing.

Joyce was a very hard worker, raising their five boys while farming their farm in rural Decorah, Iowa. She later worked at Aase Haugen Homes, Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital, and Gemini Inc. in Decorah, Iowa until she retired in 2022.

Joyce was always up for a game of cards, spending countless hours of quilting with Mick, making quilts for everyone who touched their hearts, making her famous chocolate chip and Christmas cookies, and making jams. Joyce enjoyed many cups of coffee, while spending time with family and friends. She loved spending time at the seasonal home at Hunters Slough Campground in Prairie du Chien, Wis., and their trips to the casino. She loved fishing, listening to Little Dale on the radio on Saturday mornings and watching the “Mollie B” and Danny O’Donnell shows in the evenings. Joyce is known as a mom and a grandma to many.

Joyce was an active member of the Glenwood Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, where she and Milton had been members since 1965.

Joyce is survived by her husband Milton of 63 years, her five children: Rickey (Kelli) Nelson of Dexter, IA, Kent (Jackie) Nelson of Cheyenne, WY, Brian (Robbin) Nelson of Rochester, IN, Chad Nelson (Marsha Headington) of Cresco, IA, and Jason Nelson (and friend Leah Bremer) of Decorah, IA.  15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Siblings: Judy (Mike) Moore, Vicky Kelly, Jeff (Sharon) Feickert, Rhonda (Doug) Koenig. Brother-In-Law Wayne Hemry, Sisters-In-Law Marsha Feickert, Judy Feickert, Susan Feickert, Lavonne Nelson, Marilyn Nelson, JoAnn Sexton, and Judy Nelson. Along with many nieces and nephews.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, her father and mother-in-law Joseph and Clarice (Walnatne) Nelson. Brothers: Lloyd, DuWayne, and Allen Feickert. Sister Norma Hemry, brothers-in-law: Jim Perez, Bill Kelley, Enoch Nelson, Henry (Hank) Nelson, Kenneth (Kenny) Nelson, Jack Sexton, Roger Leppert, and Sister-In-Law Delores Leppert.

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