Joyce Kurtz Leu, 63, of Marion, died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. A visitation and prayer service will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. A visitation will be held at the Best Western Hotel in Joyce’s hometown of Fairfield from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19. A memorial mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20.
Joyce was born July 12, 1948, in Fairfield, Iowa, the daughter of Paul Joseph and Lucille (Brereton) Kurtz. Following graduation from Fairfield High School in 1965, Joyce studied at the University of Northern Iowa. She married Richard Leu on June 15, 1968. Joyce worked as a long-distance telephone operator for a number of years. She earned her Associate of Applied Science degree from Ottumwa Heights College.
Joyce was parish secretary and administrator for St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield for four years before moving to Marionin 2004. She worked as a temporary administrative assistant at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids.
Joyce worked as a compliance specialist for a broker-dealer, a legal secretary for several attorneys and as an office manager and personal assistant for a psychiatrist. She received literacy training at Indian Hills Community College and served as an English-as-a-second language tutor for a number of years. She was a founding member of the Friends of the Fairfield Public Library and a volunteer in the Share Iowa program. She served as a liturgical leader in the Diocese of Davenport and a National Catholic Rural Life associate.
Joyce enjoyed participating in historical re-enactments at Ushers Ferry Historic Village and the Surveyors Historical Society. She served as a tour guide at the Carl and Mary Koehler History Center in Cedar Rapids. Joyce was an avid reader and seldom missed an episode of Jeopardy.
Survivors include her husband of 43 years, Richard; son, Benjamin (Kerri); grandchildren, Elizabeth and Kristen; mother, Lucille Kurtz; sisters, Judith Meikle (Clark), Susan Ross Miller (Ron) and Margaret Butler (Thomas); and brothers, Joseph Kurtz (Jane), Dennis Kurtz (Molly) and Glenn Kurtz.
She was preceded in death by her father, and a daughter, Elizabeth Jean.
The family thanks the doctors and staff at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa, Hospice of Mercy at Mercy Medical Center of Cedar Rapids and the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha for their support and care.
Donations may be directed to the family for the establishment of a memorial at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy.
Very sad. My thoughts are with Rich and his family.:-(
my deepest sympathy to Rich and his family.
Robert Hill
"Hang" in there Rich.
So sorry to hear this, thoughts and prayers for Rich and his family.
Very sorry to hear this. Deepest sympathies to Rich and his family.
I'm sorry to hear the news, my thoughts and prayers will be with Rich and his family.
My condolences, Rich. Sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss, Richard. Thanks for posting this Dave.
Sorry for your loss...so sad.
Richard, may you be at peace in your heart.
A cousin of mine lived in Fairfield for several years. I visited there in the Fall of 1977. That is a beautiful part of Iowa. The influx of those involved with Maharishi U. was in the early stages, as I recall.
Sad news indeed. Sorry for your loss, Rich, you are in our thoughts.
Deepest sympathies to Richard and family.
Eternal rest grant unto Joyce
may perpetual light shine upon her
and may she rest in peace
Amen
Condolences and deepest sympathies.
Sorry to hear about this Rich, thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Doug Casement
A loss for not only the family, but also the community.
prayers are out for the Leu family, may she rest well in your hearts and memories
Sorry for your lose Rich.
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Dan B. Robison
Richard,
You & your family are in my thoughts and prayers that you have a big portion of God's peace as you face this loss.
