Joyce Girkin

Joyce Ann (Downing) (Wedemeyer) Girkin, 83, passed away July 22, 2021, at the Community Care Center in Stuart, Iowa

Joyce was born in Adair, Iowa, to Glen and May (Sharon) Downing on January 13, 1939. She graduated from Adair High School in 1957. Following graduation, she moved to Des Moines to work for an insurance company before moving to Anita, Iowa. There she married Robert Gene Wedemeyer in 1959 and had three children, Tamara, Robert Jr. and Michael. They enjoyed raising and showing Appaloosa horses throughout the country. Joyce began waitressing at The Redwood Steakhouse in Anita and worked there until 1990. In 1979, she married Dale Wedemeyer and lived happily together until his death in 1996. After Dale’s death, Joyce moved to the Des Moines area to be closer to her children. She then met Bernald (Bud) Girkin and were married in 2004. Bud and Joyce lived in Grimes and enjoyed dancing, bicycle riding, gardening, and being surrounded by their children and grandchildren. She later enjoyed needle work and embroidery.

She is survived by her sisters, Marjorie Young of Adair and Elaine Sheumaker of Penfield, New York; daughter, Tami Watts-McPhail (Glen) of Ankeny; son, Mike of San Antonio, Texas; grandson, Nathan of Iowa City; granddaughter, Abby of Des Moines; brother-in-law, Dale Brentall of Ames; brother-in-law, Lyle of Adair; numerous nieces and nephews; and bonus daughter, Jodi Bodley of Des Moines.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents Glen and May; sisters, Velma Lehman (Lyle), Doris Hawthorne (Bob), Irene Brentall (Dale); brother, Kenny; son, Robert Jr; son-in-law, Daniel; husbands, Robert Sr, Dale and Bud.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 26, 2021, at the First Presbyterian Church in Adair, Iowa. Visitation will be from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., prior to the funeral.

Following cremation, partial interment will be at Dalmanutha Cemetery in Casey, Iowa, and Cavalry Cemetery in Charles City, Iowa.

Hockenberry Family Care in Adair, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.

“The sorrow we feel when we lose a loved one is the price we pay to have had them in our lives.” Rob Llano