Joyce Engbretson

Joyce Engbretson

Cedar Rapids

Joyce Margaret (Krumpos) Engbretson, age 89, of Grand Living at Indian Creek in Cedar Rapids, peacefully passed from this life on December 13, surrounded by the love she so freely gave throughout her years.

Visitation will be held at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home on Friday, December 19, 2025, from 5 to 7 PM. A mass will be held at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on Saturday, December 20, 2025, 10 AM visitation, 11 AM Mass, with a luncheon following the service. A private entombment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 68 years, Gerald C. “Jerry” Engbretson; her children Steve (Edith) Engbretson of Grangeville, ID, Peggy (Jeff) Tipton of Marion, IA, and Laurie (Robert) Brickey of Robins, IA; her daughter-in-law Barb Engbretson of Lancaster, WI; her thirteen grandchildren Naomi Engbretson, Joshua Engbretson, Emily Troyer, Joel Engbretson, Keturah Engbretson, Daniel Engbretson, Caleb Engbretson, Jeremy Tipton, Jessica Hora, Salena Behrens, Ian Brickey, Kelsey Wagner, and Tanner Engbretson; twenty-six great-grandchildren; her brother Harold (Carole) Krumpos Jr. of Green Bay, WI; her brother-in-law Charles and sister-in-law Suzanne Engbretson of Granbury, TX, her sister-in-law Evelyn Engbretson of San Antonio, TX; Jerry’s cousin Joy Morgen of Madison, WI; caring neighbor Lea Benson of Robins, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

Joyce was born on March 2, 1936, in Green Bay, WI, to Harold C. Krumpos and Margaret M. (Schroeder) Krumpos. On May 18, 1957, she married the love of her life, Gerald C. “Jerry” Engbretson, at the Church of the Annunciation in Green Bay. Together they shared a beautiful life and raised four children: Steve, Jeff, Peggy, and Laurie. Their life journey took them through several states before settling in the Cedar Rapids area in 1969, which became their forever home.

Joyce embraced life with enthusiasm and joy. She was a devoted Green Bay Packers fan and second-generation season ticket holder who attended many home games. She took great pride in decorating her home and enjoyed gardening, canning and preserving. She treasured time on the Mississippi River aboard their houseboat and later at their cabin on Abel Island in Guttenberg. Joyce delighted in entertaining family and friends and never missed an opportunity to lift others up. Joyce and Jerry shared many adventures traveling in their RV and spent cherished winters in Florida following Jerry’s retirement.

Above all else, Joyce’s life was rooted in her deep faith and her love for her family and friends. To know Joyce was to experience God’s unconditional love in action. She lived her faith quietly and sincerely—through generosity, compassion, and steadfast care for others. She had a remarkable gift for turning new acquaintances into lifelong friends, a trait especially evident during her years on the river and later within the welcoming community at Grand Living, where she quickly became a beloved presence.

Joyce devoted her heart and much of her life to her children and grandchildren. She created a warm, nurturing home where love was felt deeply and celebrations were always made special. She doted on each of her thirteen grandchildren, thoughtfully planning special “Grandma Day” adventures and taking time to truly know, encourage, and celebrate each one as an individual.

Her love for children extended beyond her family. Joyce served as a teacher’s aide at Linn-Mar Schools for over a decade, working in elementary classrooms, the junior high math department, and the senior high library. Through her work, she touched countless young lives and formed lifelong friendships with colleagues she cherished.

Joyce will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew her. Her legacy of kindness, faith, and compassion lives on through the generations she shaped and the lives she touched.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Margaret Krumpos; her father and mother-in-law, Charles and Lucille Engbretson; her son Jeffrey Engbretson; her brother-in-law Stewart Engbretson; her sister-in-law Ann Vandenplas; and her brother and sister-in-law Thomas and Arlene Engbretson.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.