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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Harriette 'Joyce' Williams
HARRIETTE "JOYCE" HEDGE WILLIAMS
Cedar Rapids
Harriette "Joyce" Hedge Williams died March 19, 2017, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha following a short illness.
Joyce was born Dec. 22, 1926, in Delta, Iowa, the daughter of Russell H. "Doc" and Harriette Faye (Reed) Hedge. She was married June 14, 1947, to Howard E. "Gene" Williams at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Joyce and Gene were classmates since kindergarten and graduated from Hedrick High School. Joyce earned her teaching certificate at Iowa State Teachers College (Cedar Falls). On Jan. 31, 1960, she earned a B.S. in education from Drake University. Joyce graduated Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society, in the field of education. She passionately taught in Grand Junction, Osage, Mason City, Des Moines, Madrid and retired in Ottumwa in 1989 (Evans Junior High). She taught junior high for 36 and a half years and was nominated for Iowa Teacher of the Year.
Joyce was an avid reader and was interested in creative writing, poetry, writing books and making teaching aids. Her hobbies included crocheting, sewing, rock hunting, exploring her family history, and history. She had a thirst for learning with a resistance to technology and computers. Joyce was a member of the National Education Association (NEA).
She is held in loving memory by her husband of 70 years, Gene, her children, Ron (Sandy) Williams of Cedar Rapids, Linda (Dan) Corzette of Galesburg, Ill., and Rus Williams (Debbie Popenhagen) of Fairfax; grandchildren, Kelly (Scott) Dahlke, Jason Williams, Megan Doyle, Rhiannon Williams, Jordan Williams, Tara Popenhagen and Megan Popenhagen; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Knute and Roy Hedge; and one grandson, Wes Corzette.
A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Teahen Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life is planned in Pennsylvania Place Dining Room, Ottumwa, on April 1 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, 315 18th Ave., Hiawatha, IA 52233.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.
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