Joyce M. Stenzel

BLUE EARTHAUGUST 11, 2013JOYCE M. STENZELJoyce M. Stenzel, 87 of Blue Earth, went home to be with her Lord with her family at her side on Sunday, August 11, 2013 at Blue Earth United Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, August 15, 2013 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Earth with Rev. Dr. Mark Wilms officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth. Visiting hours will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service and one hour prior to services at the church. Web condolences may be left at www.pattonfh.com.Joyce Stenzel was born the youngest of four children to Henry and Elizabeth (Rissiter) Thompson on April 28, 1926. She grew up on a farm in Pilot Grove township and attended country school through the 8th grade. She was baptized and confirmed at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore, and graduated from Elmore High School in 1944. After high school she worked for a number of years at the Kohler Pharmacy in Blue Earth. She was married to Robert Stenzel on December 30, 1951 and to this union three children were born Perry, Sheila, and Connie. Joyce was a proud and devoted mother as well as a full-time homemaker during the children''s formative years. She volunteered as a Cub Scout den mother, as a Sunday School and Bible School teacher, as well as at numerous other church activities. As her children grew, she resumed working part-time for several local businesses in Blue Earth until her retirement.Throughout her life Joyce loved to be on the go and around people. Over the years she enjoyed traveling with Bob to many parts of the country, and was especially fond of motorcycle riding which they enjoyed for over 30 years only finally giving it up in the last few years. In spite of numerous health issues which left her increasingly debilitated, she kept a wonderful sense of humor, remained cheerful, enjoyed laughing, and loved spending time with family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Joyce is survived by her husband Robert of Blue Earth, son Perry (& Arlene) of Lakeville, daughter Sheila (& Darcy Taylor) of Vancouver, British Columbia, daughter Connie (& Dennis Holtz) of Renner, South Dakota, four grandchildren and their families Chad (& Tasha, Jackson, Julia and Graham), Brent (& Missy, Avery and Jamison), Heather (& Derek Andersen), Laura (& Dan Stewart), as well as several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, her three brothers (Haran, Earl, and Ansel), as well as three sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law and a baby daughter.