Joyce Winfrey

Hastings resident, Joyce Elaine (Horton) Winfrey, 83, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014 at College View Memory Support.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 2, 2014; 2:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. with the family present 5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Private family graveside services at Parkview Cemetery will follow the next morning. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be given to the Alzheimer Association or to the Mary Lanning Hospital Foundation to benefit the Family Care Center and nursing scholarships.

Joyce was born at home in Spencer, Iowa on June 19, 1931 to Arthur and Frances (Bamsey) Horton. She was the middle of three daughters. The family moved to Ida Grove, Iowa, in August, 1935. Joyce graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1949. During her youth, she was a Girl Scout, played the clarinet in the school band, was a member of the National Honor Society, wrote for the school newspaper, worked as a nurse's aide and helped at Horton's Market, her family's grocery store.

In September 1949, she began nursing school at the Methodist School of Nursing (now known as St. Luke's) in Sioux City, Iowa. She graduated in 1952 and worked as a Registered Nurse at Buena Vista Hospital until April 1953. Joyce started working at Mary Lanning Hospital in May 1953. She worked in pediatrics, maternity, and was head of Central Service from August 1973 until she retired in June 1990. In retirement, she volunteered hundreds of hours at Mary Lanning through the Hospital Volunteer Service.

While doing a student nursing rotation in Hastings, Nebraska, Joyce met her future husband, John Winfrey. They were married on April 19, 1953 in Ida Grove, Iowa. Three children were born - Kathleen, Kenneth, and Dennis. John passed away on June 6, 2005. Joyce moved to College View Assisted Living in October 2010 and to the Memory Support Unit in January 2013.

Joyce was a member of the Methodist church her entire life. She was baptized in June 1935 at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in Spencer, Iowa. In April 1943, she was confirmed at the First United Methodist Church in Ida Grove, Iowa. She transferred her membership to the First United Methodist Church in Hastings in October 1953. She greatly enjoyed being a part of the United Methodist Woman after her retirement.

Joyce loved being with her family, friends, and neighbors. She was a Sunday school teacher and a Girl Scout leader. Joyce and John loved camping in their RV, taking bus trips all over the country, and traveling to Europe. She enjoyed watching anything to do with the Cornhuskers, her sons and grandsons. Joyce always had lots of flowers growing throughout her yard and enjoyed feeding and watching the birds. She was always putting together jigsaw puzzles and doing word searches.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, John.

Survivors include:
Children & Spouses:
Kathy & Al Emken - Kearney, NE
Ken & Rhonda Winfrey - Hastings, NE
Dennis Winfrey - Lincoln, NE
Grandchildren & Spouse:
Marcus & Megan Emken - Kearney, NE
Dan Emken - Lincoln, NE
Drew Emken - Omaha, NE
Nick Winfrey - Omaha, NE
Jake Winfrey - Lincoln, NE
Great Grandchildren:
Niles Emken - Kearney, NE
Emma Emken - Kearney, NE
Sisters & Spouses:
Beverly & Eugene Rasmussen - Denton, MD
Phyllis & Jim Vohs - Henderson, NV
Sisters-in-law & Spouse:
Imogene & Harold MacDonald - Fayetteville, AR
Joyce Wilson - Winona, MN
Brother-in-law:
David Winfrey - Aurora, CO
And many nieces & nephews