Joyce Brocka

Joyce Lavonne Brocka, age 86, of Parkersburg, Iowa, was born the daughter of Echo G. and Gladys (Gieken) Mennen on March 9, 1935, Butler County, Iowa, north of Allison. She received her education from a rural Aplington country school near her home and graduated in 1953 from Aplington High School.
On March 6, 1957, Joyce Mennen was united in marriage with Ronald Lee Brocka at Bethel Reformed Church rural Aplington. The couple made their home and farmed north of Parkersburg. Joyce was a loving wife, mother and she helped Ron with the farming.
Joyce was a faithful member of First Congregational Church in Parkersburg where she had taught Sunday School and was active in the Ladies Guild. In her spare time, she was a wonderful seamstress, quilting, enjoyed crocheting, knitting and was a big supporter of 4-H. She also enjoyed serving the Sunday Veteran’s breakfast brunches at Parkersburg Veteran’s Building. A few favorite things were listening to and playing church hymns, doing ceramics with her Mother Gladys, Renise and other family members, and having melted ice cream she would set on the radiator to melt it. Through the years she enjoyed traveling with Ron to Florida, Galveston and New Orleans. They also enjoyed many fishing trips to Minnesota. Joyce’s love of music was passed to her children where she insisted they took piano lessons. She took great pride and telling everyone the number of great-grandchildren they had.
Joyce passed away on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, Iowa, from natural causes. She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Sharon Bartles, a great granddaughter, Hadley Rogers, and Jason’s special friend Kelly Arjes.
Joyce is survived by her husband Ronald Brocka of 64 years; three children, Randy (Kim) Brocka of Parkersburg, Renise (Bryan) Frey of Ackley, and Jason Brocka of Parkersburg; seven grandchildren, Elicia (Chris) Luhring, Natalie (Derek) Rogers, Riley (Haley) Brocka, Bridget (Nathan) Leerhoff, Brooke (Jon) Onken, Brent Frey and Brady Frey; 35 great-grandchildren; eight sisters, Marjorie Junker of Jesup, Erma (Clarence) Diekman of Parkersburg, Shirley Lupkes of Parkersburg, Janice Johnson of Parkersburg, Glenda Vanderholt of Parkersburg, Carol (Wayne) Aukes of Wellsburg, Judy (Larry) Pruisner of Parkersburg, Kathy (Larry) Koppendryer of Waverly; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held 11:30 a.m., on Monday, April 19, 2021, at the First Congregational Church in Parkersburg. Pastor Brian Koelsch and Pastor Martin DeWitt officiated the service. Randy Brocka played a piano solo of “The King Is Coming” and the great grandchildren sang “I’ll Fly Away”. The congregation sang “In The Garden” and “Til The Storm Passes By”. Burial was held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg with Riley Brocka, Brent Frey, Skylar Bloomquist, Brady Frey, Blayne Luhring and Ty Luhring serving as Casketbearers. Stacy Whitmire, Gayla Hoppenworth and Janie Schipper served as the Flower Committee.
Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 on Sunday at Redman Funeral & Cremation Services in Parkersburg. Memorials may be directed to Mission Committee of First Congregational Church. Redman Funeral & Cremation Services in Parkersburg was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.redmanfuneral.com