Joyce Ann Roberson

Joyce Ann Roberson

Coralville

Joyce Roberson, wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, University of Iowa alumna, and friend, died on July 6, 2022, at University of Iowa Hospitals after a brief illness. Joyce was 89 years old.

Joyce was born on June 27, 1933, to Merle and Gertrude Postel in Monticello, Iowa. After graduating from Monticello high school, Joyce bravely moved across the country to Washington, D.C., and worked as a clerk for the FBI for a year. She used her earnings to fund her nursing education at the University of Iowa. She received a BSN in 1958. She received her M.A. in Nursing in 1975 and her Ph.D. in Higher Education in 1983.

Joyce worked as a nurse and taught nursing at numerous Iowa colleges over the course of her career. She taught at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Marshalltown Community School of Nursing, Clinton Community College Nursing Department, University of Dubuque where she was the chair of the Nursing Department, Coe College, Clarke College where she was chair of the Nursing Department, and then returning to the University of Iowa Nursing College as an assistant professor. She also did consulting work for ACT and helped other nursing colleges develop curriculum. Joyce especially loved teaching pediatric nursing and working with new moms and babies.

After her retirement from the University of Iowa in 1995, Joyce moved to Fort Myers, Fla., where she enjoyed the warm weather, beaches and being close to her sister, Helen Martin. She also worked part-time teaching nursing at Florida Gulfcoast University. She moved back up to Iowa in 2006 and became the Parish Nurse at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City until completely retiring in 2011.

Joyce loved to travel and took several trips with the Friendship Force chapters from Iowa and Florida. Destinations included Australia, Russia and France. Joyce also traveled to Kazakhstan where she served as a volunteer nurse for Lutherans in Medical Missions in 1995. She also volunteered as a nurse at the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Rockport, Ariz., in 1997.

Joyce is survived by her three beloved children, Deborah Roberson Hoffmann (Andrew), Douglas Roberson and Daniel Roberson; two beloved granddaughters, Erin Hoffmann and Claire Hoffmann; her brother, William Postel (Diane); sisters, Helen Postel Martin, Ruth Postel Payne, Janet Postel Isaacson and Judith Postel Monk (Randy); and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Merle and Gertrude Postel; her beloved husband, Dennis Roberson; her brother, Harold Postel and his wife, Joan; and brothers-in-law, David Martin, John Isaacson and Kenneth Payne.

Joyce was loved by so many. Her generous spirit and boundless energy left an impression wherever she went. She loved to talk to people, went out of her way to help anyone in need and had an incredible work ethic that will forever be remembered.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hancher Circle Fund.