Kranz, Joyce A.

Joyce A. Kranz, 77, of Newhall, died Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at her home following a sudden illness. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at St. John Lutheran Church, Newhall, with the Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating. Private family interment will be in St. John Cemetery, near Newhall. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church.

A memorial fund has been established.

Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent the family at .

Joyce A. Ford was born Aug. 11, 1934, in Cedar Rapids, to Charles Franklin and Alma Kellerhals Ford. She graduated from McKinley High School in Cedar Rapids in 1952. She was united in marriage to Merlon G. Kranz on Aug. 11, 1952, at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids.

Joyce worked as a legal secretary and also for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Newhall. Joyce was an avid reader and enjoyed many hours reading books on her Kindle. She also cherished spending time with all of her family.

Joyce will be sadly missed by her husband, Merlon of Newhall; her children, Kathy (Michael) Collins of McAllester, Okla., Miriam (George) Simpson of Ventura, Marty (Julie) Kranz of Iowa City, and Steven Kranz of the United Arab Emirates; five grandchildren, Gina (Jim) Hiscock of Washington D.C., Aaron (Peggy) Simpson of Omaha, Neb., Jonathan (Rayanna Hosokawa) Collins of Dallas, Texas, Gregory Collins of Witchita, Kan., and Kelsey Kranz of Iowa City; her two great-grandchildren, Thomas and Charlie Hiscock; her three sisters, Edith Evans of Gordon, Neb., Ruth (Ken) Warren of Marion, and Leona Gaines of Cedar Rapids; and her pug dog, Gus.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; son, Mark Kranz; her brother, Merl Ford; and her sister, Iris Shramek.