Schippers, Joyce Eileen (Snyder) 1929-2007

SCHIPPERS, SNYDER, MOODY

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/26/2008 at 19:38:20

Joyce Eileen Snyder was born northwest of Richland, Iowa on May 21, 1929. She was the first of three children born to Howard and Bessie Moody Snyder. Although neither parent had red hair, all three of the children did.

Joyce grew up south of Dublin, Iowa where she attended Brighton Scooperville Country Grade School. She graduated from Richland High School with the Class of 1946, second in her class. Joyce enrolled at Central College in Pella, Iowa and then attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa and Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

While attending Central College, Joyce worked at Central Park Café where a young man, Marvin Gene Schippers had noticed her. One evening when Joyce was on a date with a young man at the movies, Marvin slipped in behind them and pestered her date through the entire movie- telling him that he needed to go home to check on the kids! A few days later Joyce was sitting in the park talking with some friends, she went to the popcorn stand to get popcorn and Marvin offered to walk her home. The following week Joyce went on a movie date with Marvin and neither one ever dated anyone else again. Marvin loved her so much that when she asked him to stop smoking, he threw out his cigarettes and never smoked again. On May 15, 1949, they were united in marriage at the parsonage of the Third Reformed Church in Pella. Their marriage was made special by the love and affection they shared with one another.

Raising a wonderful, caring family was a common goal of theirs. On January 23, 1951, their first daughter was born, Deborah Ann; on October 15, 1956, their son, Anthony Eugene; on November 18, 1958, their second daughter, Lorinda Lea and on August 1, 1960, their third daughter, Angelia Jean.

Joyce loved to go fishing in Canada, and at her son's cabin on Big Lake in Minnesota. She loved to participate in her Bible Study group at Third Church and at Griffin Nursing Center. Working with the children in Children and Worship at Third Reformed Church was also a love and joy for her. On special occasions she would make bacon and eggs for the students with pretzels and M & M's. She loved having tea time with children of the church and with her own grandchildren. Education was and continued to be a high priority for Joyce.

She took ten years off from teaching to raise her family and then went back to obtain her four year degree. She graduated from Central College in 1968 with a degree in Elementary Education. Joyce was an elementary school teacher for 38 years. She taught at various country schools including Amsterdam and Bunker Hill and for Pella Community Schools. Joyce was a member of the National Teachers Association. She had a passion for teaching about rocks and minerals and Iowa History as many of her fifth grade students could attest to. She never stopped teaching, she taught her grandchildren many important lessons about life and even when she was taking her last breath she was teaching us all how to live.

On Tuesday morning, May 8, 2007 she passed away at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella twelve days prior to her 78th birthday.

Those who will cherish her memory are her husband of 58 years, their four children and spouses, Deborah (Deb) and Steve Williams of Pleasant Hill, Anthony (Tony) and Julie Schippers of Andover, MN, Lorinda (Lori) Schippers of Ames and Angelia (Angie) and Larry Roberson of Millville, MN, eleven grand children, two great-grandchildren, and many friends and students whose lives were changed because of the wonderful friend and teacher they had.

Of her original family, Joyce leaves her two brothers and their wives: Howard, Jr. and Ann Snyder of Richland, Iowa; Ronald and Marsha Snyder of Burlington, Iowa; and a sister-in-law, Leona (Schippers) De Bruyn of Newton, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Bessie Snyder.

Joyce was baptized and made profession of her faith at the Third Reformed Church in Pella where she remained a faithful member the remainder of her lifetime.

For those desiring, memorials may be given to the Third Church to be used for the addition of books to the library.

The Pella Chronicle, June 18, 2007