Joyce Florence (Petersen) Bennett

JOYCE FLORENCE (PETERSEN) BENNETT

Marion

Joyce Florence (Petersen) Bennett, 88, passed away from natural causes on Thursday, May 13, 2021. A Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Wednesday. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Joyce, under "photos and videos or media," starting at

1 p.m. on Wednesday. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m. at West Branch Cemetery in West Branch, Iowa. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a face mask and practice social distancing.

Joyce was most recently in St. Paul, Minn., but lived in Iowa for all of her life. She was born in 1932 and lived in West Branch, Iowa. In both high school and college, Joyce was a standout vocalist and basketball player. Joyce attended Dana College in Blair, Neb., where she was elected homecoming queen and was active in theatre and music. She met her husband, Bill (Francis William) Bennett at Dana. Joyce began her career as an elementary school teacher in West Branch. While her teaching career ended when she started her family, working with children was a great joy for her. Joyce was active in the community and was a long-time member of the Marion Musical Literary Society, OOP, PEO and others. She helped to run Bill's medical practice in Marion, Iowa, and also worked at the Marion Ski Shop. Joyce had a love of gardening, producing a beautiful garden every year. Perhaps Joyce's greatest gift was the warmth and love that she shared with her family and friends. She was kind and generous, with an open heart for so many and always put others before herself.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; daughter, Sheila; sister, Dorothy Gongwer; parents, Victor and Lillian Petersen; and stepmother, Alberta Petersen.

She leaves behind children, Brian (Lisa) Bennett, Bruce (Pamela) Bennett and Denise (Jon) Ward; grandchildren, David (Lara Guttia) Bennett, Christopher Bennett, Benjamin Bennett, Olivia Bennett, Robert (Euliza) Mays Jr., Caitlin Ward and Charles (Mandi) Ward; great-grandchildren, Maddox Bennett, Carson Bennett, Robert H. Mays III, Xavier Mays, Taylor Mays and Brittni Mays; and great-great-grandchild, Zoe Mays. Joyce is also survived by her twin brother, Carroll (Alberta) Petersen; sister, Shirley Budreau; sisters-in-law, Ann Bennett and Pat Bennett; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews who she deeply cared for; and special family friend, Kevin (Molly) Lurth.

Many thanks to the staff of the Waters of Highland Park in St. Paul for the support provided in the past four years.

Joyce would ask that in memory of her that you reach out to a special friend, tell a family member that you love them, plant a beautiful flower, play your favorite music and contribute to an organization in your community.

Please share a memory of Joyce at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.