Joyce Irene DeBrower, 27 Jul 1939 – 02 Oct 2010

DEBROWER, VAN GAMPLEARE, BLOMME, RHINEHART

Posted By: Sandy Ficken-whc (email)
Date: 10/14/2010 at 14:41:11

Funeral Mass for Joyce I. DeBrower, 71, Marengo, formerly of Victor, was held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, at St. Bridget Catholic Church, Victor. She died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City.

The Rev. Brian Shepley officiated at the service. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Victor. Memorials may be sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 485, Victor, Iowa 52347. Memories and condolences may be left at www.smithfh.com.

Joyce Irene DeBrower was born at home July 27, 1939, in Iowa County, the first daughter of Arthur and Evalena Van Gampleare DeBrower. She became ill with encephalitis at the age of three, which resulted in epilepsy and cerebral palsy. She attended country school through the fifth grade. In 1969, she attended Iowa County Developmental Center, Iowa County, where she continued her education. She lived with her parents, assisting them with family care of eight brothers and two sisters. In 1990, she moved to Hillside Estate, Williamsburg, residing there until it closed in 2007. She then moved to Rose Haven Nursing Home, Marengo.

Dec. 1, 1980, she was employed by Rural Employment Alternatives, Conroy, where she performed various jobs for local businesses, including Amana Refrigeration and Kinze Manufacturing. Some of her most preferred jobs were preparing information for mailings and packaging a variety of items. She was always proud to tell her family what project she was working on. Health conditions required her to retire Feb. 13, 2008.

She was a devoted Iowa Hawkeye fan. She was a very social person and enjoyed visiting with her friends from Hillside and Rose Haven, especially about her family that she was so proud of. She enjoyed the various outings planned by REA, Hillside Estate and Rose Haven. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, dominoes, Wi-Fi and bowling. She made jewelry and enjoyed making many craft projects that she would lovingly give to family members. She enjoyed collecting photos of nieces and nephews that she kept in numerous photo albums. She always remembered everyone in the family and she enjoyed all the family gatherings. She was greatly loved by all and she was a very special part of the family.

DeBrower is survived by five brothers and their wives, John and Carol Ann DeBrower, Cedar Rapids; Douglas and Kim DeBrower, Dean and Nancy DeBrower and William and Linda DeBrower, all Victor, and Harold and Susan DeBrower, Ladora, and two sisters and their husbands, Carole and Harold Blomme, Amherst, Colo., and Elaine and Craig Rhinehart, Brooklyn.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Frank, Thomas and David, and several nephews.

Williamsburg Journal Tribune, Williamsburg, IA, 14 Oct 2010, pg 11