Joyce Eyler

JOYCE EYLER

Belle Plaine

Joyce Jean (Auten) Eyler, 88, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, passed away at Keystone Care Center in Keystone, Iowa, surrounded by loved ones, on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017.

Services are 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service in Belle Plaine. Friends may call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. before the service. A private family inurnment will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.hrabakfuneralhome.com.

Joyce was born Dec. 19, 1928, to Lester and Margaret (Wolfe) Auten in Cedar Bluffs, Neb. When she was in the fourth grade, her family moved from Nebraska to Belle Plaine, Iowa. She graduated from Belle Plaine High School. She then worked at Klinks Drug Store, where she met the love of her life, Adrian Eugene Eyler. They married Sept. 28, 1950, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this marriage, three children were born and raised.

Joyce was an excellent seamstress and loved people. She put those talents to work in her jobs at Storms Men's Clothing, Grieder's Clothing and Hope's Bridal. She also managed Lollipop Lane in Belle Plaine for many years. Joyce loved working on Main Street and meeting new people. She just had a special gift of genuinely caring about people and putting them at ease.

Joyce retired from Hope's Bridal in 2006 to care for her husband when his health was declining. She maintained her many friendships as the years went on and was loved by her family and many friends. She continued to do alterations after retirement which kept her busy. She loved her family and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She left a lasting legacy that will endure for years to come.

Survivors include her son, Mark of Lamoni, Iowa; daughters, Peggy (Tod) Hlavacek of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Kim (Jeff) Wickwire of Belle Plaine, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Donald Eyler of Oklahoma City and Lumir Houser of Scottsdale, Ariz.; seven grandchildren, Jill (Aaron) Goodell of Brandon, S.D., Chad (Ashley) Herman of Irving, Iowa, Nicklas (Christina) Hlavacek of Cedar Rapids, Katie (Charlie) Criswell of Grinnell, Iowa, Daren Hlavacek of Cedar Rapids, Alan Wickwire of Grinnell and Eric (Janeen) Wickwire of Belle Plaine;

17 great-grandchildren, Abby, Taylor, Caleb, Ryan, Eli, Caden, Taryn, Colton, Holden, Leah, Jacob, Jared, Chase, Lilly, Abigail, Hunter and Courtney; and her roommate and special friend, Connie Turner of Keystone Care Center.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Adrian; her parents, Lester and Margaret (Wolfe) Auten; brother, Rollie; sisters, Patsy and Dorothy; a grand-daughter, Melissa Wickwire; and nephews, Mike and Pat Anderson.

The family would like to thank the staff at Keystone Nursing Care Center, Dr. Steven Wahle of Physicians Clinic of Iowa and Hospice Compassus.