Kirk, Joyce LaRue (Vriezelaar) 1923-2006

KIRK, VRIEZELAAR, HIEMSTRA, BUWALDA

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 12/1/2006 at 19:57:52

Joyce LaRue Vriezelaar Kirk was born March 9, 1923 at home near Otley, Iowa to John and Emma Annetta Hiemstra Vriezelaar. Joyce's father John passed away when she was just four months old and her brother Lee was 4 years old. In 1929 Emma married John J. Buwalda, a widower with two daughters, Sara 6 and Alice 4. In 1932, Ruth was born, completing the family.

Joyce grew up in Jasper and Marion Counties, attending First Baptist Church in Pella, Pella Public Schools and graduating from Pella High School in 1941. She attended Simpson College for two years receiving a degree in education.

Following college, Joyce taught school in Polk City for 2 years, then worked for the phone company in Des Moines until moving with her parents in 1948 to Mesa, Arizona. They lived in Arizona until 1951, when they returned to Iowa. Joyce then became a saleslady at the Utica in Des Moines.

On December 14, 1958, Joyce married Raymond Kirk in Kellogg, Iowa. Joyce and Ray farmed in Story County, where daughter Kristen was born in 1960. They later farmed in Marion County and in Lucas County until they retired to Chariton in 1999.

Joyce returned home peacefully, in her sleep at home, on September 11, 2006 at the age of 83.

Joyce was preceded in death by her father John, mother Emma, stepfather John, brother Lee, stepsister Sarah Buwalda Plath, and half-sister Verna Ruth Buwalda Ray.

She is survived by her husband Ray of Chariton, daughter Kristen (Bill) Messamer of Russell, granddaughters Candace (Brian) Hatch of Knoxville, and Nicole Messamer of Russell, and great-grandson Mason Hatch of Knoxville; sister-in-law Mary Lou Vriezelaar of Pella, stepsister Alice (Arie) Ver Dught of Monroe, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 16, 2006 at Fielding Funeral Home, visitation was held 4-6 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2006. Interment was at 2:00 p.m. at the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella, IA.

Arrangements were made by Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton.

The Pella Chronicle, October 3, 2006