Joyce Emgarten

Joyce Emgarten

December 22, 1935 – October 24, 2017

Joyce Ardith Emgarten was born on December 22, 1935, in Adair, Iowa, to Harry and Nona (Juhl) Westergaard. Joyce entered the world in the community she called home for 81 years at the family’s home on the corner of North Street and White Pole Road. She attended rural schools in Adair and graduated from Adair High School in 1954.

She began her own family shortly after high school when she was united in marriage to William (Bill) Emgarten on November 5, 1954. Over the years, Joyce worked as a homemaker, babysitter, waitress at the Jesse James restaurant and as a housekeeper at the Adair motel. However, her greatest job was being a mother, grandmother and great-grandma. She took great pride in caring for others and will be remembered for her kindness, generosity and ability to find the good in each and every person she met. Always welcoming her family and community with an open heart and home, Joyce became “Grandma Joyce” to many outside of her own family.

Joyce enjoyed life with Bill on the farm, raising their six children and caring for her bottle lambs and family dogs. She took an active role in the lives of her children and grandchildren and in the community. As her father Harry once expressed – The only night she stayed home was the night she was born, and that’s only because she got here too late to go anywhere. Joyce enjoyed spending time with her family, playing board games and cards, going to garage sales, spending hours in the swimming pool, and attending every Adair-Casey Bombers sporting event. She could always be found cheering courtside, in the front row. Joyce was recognized for her support of the AC Bombers earning the Adair Community Sportsmanship award at Wells Fargo Arena in 2013. She was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, served as a volunteer reader for children at Adair Elementary Schools and donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. She was an avid Nebraska Cornhuskers football and Duke basketball fan.

Joyce passed away October 24, 2017, at the Exira Care Center at the age of 81. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Nona (Juhl) Westergaard; husband, Bill Emgarten; granddaughter, Morgan Williams; brother, Gary Westergaard; and daughter-in-law, Sharon Emgarten.

Those who honor her memory include: six children: Bill Emgarten of Aurora, Colorado; Cinda (Perry) Leeper of Adair; Cheryl (Mark) Williams of Adair; Ron Emgarten of Casey; Connie Emgarten of Casey; and Mark (Trista) Emgarten of Adair; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Dean (Linda) Westergaard of North Liberty; and other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services for Joyce Emgarten will be held on Friday, October 27, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Adair. Burial will follow at Sunnyhill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 26, 2017, at the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Adair.

Memorials in Joyce’s name may be directed to the family to use per her wishes.