Joyce Shindelar

Monday, June 8, 2020 4:04 pm

Joyce Shindelar, 76, of Calmar, passed away at her home June 5, lovingly surrounded by her husband and children after a short battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 10, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 South Maryville Street, Calmar, with Rev. Robert Gross presiding.

Lectors are Samantha Phillips and Makenzie Shindelar. Organist is Jeanette Dietzenbach. Soloist is Dan Silhacek. Congregational hymns are “Be Not Afraid,” Hail Mary, Gentle Woman,” “On Eagle’s Wings,” Goin’ Home” and “How Great Thou Art.” Eulogy will be Katrina Shindelar. Offertory gift bearers are Jason Shindelar, Ashley Van Straten and Caleb Lask. Eucharistic ministers are Karissa Junior and Shawn Shindelar. Pall bearers are Brian, Randy, Alan, Sheri, Marty and Shannon. Honorary pall bearers are Darryl Humpal, Todd Havel, John Bodensteiner, Dan Timp and Eric Heying. Burial is in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel, 202 South Washington Street, in Calmar. The Schluter-Balik Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Joyce Carol Shindelar was born Feb. 2, 1944, the 10th child of Peter and Agnes (Bohr) Heying at their home in rural Winneshiek County near Festina. Some of her favorite memories growing up in a large family included playing softball, dress-up wedding and playing cards with the Joe Heying family. She attended St. Francis DeSales school, graduating in 1962. She met her future husband at a dance in Spillville; they were married July 13, 1963, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church in Festina. Joyce and Richard farmed on the Shindelar Family Farm while they raised their six children. In addition to farming, Joyce also worked as dental assistant for Dr. Haas and Dr. Gessner, was a sales associate at Elaine’s, and was a natural as a blackjack dealer at the “Boat” and for 10 years worked as a cashier at Kwik Star where she brightened the days of all who entered. Joyce was a devoted mother who taught her six children many lifelong skills including working hard, the importance of faith and family and the value of knowing how to play 500. She shared her many talents with her children/grandchildren with the numerous blankets she made and was their biggest fan at their many sporting events. More recently, Joyce also thoroughly enjoyed her afternoons with her “Mah Jongg Ladies.” Whether with family, friends or former co-workers, Joyce could always be counted on to make you smile and laugh with her quick wit and humor.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Richard, of Calmar and her six children: Brian (Lori) Shindelar, Decorah; Randy (Tricia) Shindelar, Plainview, Minn.; Alan (Jill) Shindelar, Calmar; Sheri (Chris) Lask, New Lenox, Ill.; Marty (Jessica) Shindelar, Stewartville, Minn.; Shannon Shindelar Lakeville, Minn.; 17 grandchildren: Karissa (Vince) Junior, Karah, Katrina, Shawn and Seth Shindelar, Makenzie and Morgan Shindelar, Samantha (Tanner) Phillips and Brittany Shindelar, Caleb and Cameron Lask, Jason, Audrey, Danika and Lucas Shindelar, Ashely and Alexis Van Straten; siblings and siblings in-law: Marian Heying, Emily Heying, Elaine Heying, Richard (Linda) Heying, Marcia (Larry) Havel and Don (Carolyn) Heying, Gertrude Holthaus, Joe (Arlene) Shindelar, Al (Fran) Shindelar, Helen Zbornik and Darryl Hauer.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Agnes Heying; four brothers: Hugo and his wife Lucille, Larry Heying, Irvin Heying and Cleo Heying; sisters and brothers-in-law: Ruth and Ray Langreck, Kay and Stan Humpal, Elsie and Donald Timp, Rosalyn and Gene Bodensteiner; Francis Shindelar, Marie (Paul)Tieskotter, Anselm (Marge) Shindelar, Cyril Shindelar, Art Holthaus, Adrian Zbornik and Theresa Ruzicka-Hauer.