116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Joy Ann Porter Schmidt
Joy Ann Porter Schmidt
Cedar Rapids
Joy Ann Porter Schmidt, 72, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Sunday, September 1, 2024. Services: 11 a.m., Monday, September 9, 2024, at Teahen Funeral Home. Friends may visit with the family on Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Teahen Funeral Home.
Joy is survived by her sons, Jason (Kimberly) Schmidt of Helotes, Texas, and Robert Schmidt of Central City; four grandchildren, Zane, Hannah, Sadie, and Wesley Schmidt; sisters, Jean (Harold) Youngblut, Suzanne Jensen, Mary “Fancy” (Harlan) Lynn, and Cindy (Tom) Giberson; brothers, William “Bill” (Sandy) Porter, and John (Bobbi) Porter; and soulmate, Denny Burke.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Grayce Kennedy Porter, and brothers, Ken Porter, Bob Porter, and Mike Porter.
Joy was born on January 29, 1952, in Cedar Falls. In 1970 she graduated from Cedar Falls High School. Joy married Gary Schmidt but later divorced. She met Denny in 2002 and became a dearly loved member of his family, including Colby (Tammy) Burke, Amanda (Corey) Wistrom, and grandchildren Xander and Lincoln Burke and Jack and Carly Wistrom. She worked as an early childhood screener for Grant Wood AEA for more than 30 years and retired in 2011. It was a role she loved, and she excelled in caring for the kids she served.
Joy enjoyed gardening, traveling, astronomy, reading, walking, and spending time at the beach or pool. She could often be found playing cards with grandkids, nieces, and nephews, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers. She treasured any and all time with family and was always their dependable, “go-to” person. Joy’s family and friends will deeply miss her.
Joy loved the Salt River wild horses and loved to visit them in their home along the Salt River. If you’d like to express sympathy, please do so by making a donation to the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group at https://saltriverwildhorsemanagementgroup.org/
donate/
Online condolences can be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.
Daily Newsletters