Joyce Leanna Christensen
September 18, 1935 — June 1, 2020
Grace Baptist Church will be live streaming her service at this site:
https://youtu.be/eyLHiDi3VIE
Joyce Leanna Christensen, daughter of Eddie and Alice (Peterson) Arentson was born September 18, 1935 in Harlan, Iowa. Joyce attended Lincoln #4 country school through 8th grade and graduated from Harlan High School in 1953. She was very involved in 4-H, having served as a county officer until she went to college. Joyce immediately attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Joyce began teaching kindergarten in Exira, Iowa and taught in Exira for four years and taught second grade at Irwin-Kirkman School for one year. On June 16, 1956, Joyce married Stanley Christensen at Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan.
Joyce accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at 12 years of age and was baptized and became a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan. Joyce taught children in Sunday School at Bethel Baptist. Joyce and her husband became Charter members of Grace Baptist Church in 1974. She continued to teach Sunday School at Grace Baptist. Teaching children in Sunday School was her passion in serving the Lord and Savior and she taught for over 50 years. Joyce taught and served in Awana program at Grace Baptist Church from 1974 until spring of 2020.
One of her greatest joys was being with her 17 grandchildren and cooking them their favorite foods and baking their favorite desserts. She loved raising beautiful flowers and enjoyed numerous trips to view the cherry blossoms in spring time in Washington DC. Her daughter Beth Ann was not only her daughter but also her best friend.
Joyce died in her home in Harlan on Monday, June 1, 2020 attaining the age of eighty-fours years, eight months and fourteen days. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years Stanley Christensen of Harlan, Iowa; children Curt (Amy) Christensen of Omaha, Nebraska; Beth Ann (Todd) Brace of rural Defiance, Iowa; Kyle (Suzanne) Christensen of rural Defiance, Iowa; Joel (Valerie) Christensen of Severance, Colorado; sister Mary Nichols-Olson of Marshalltown, Iowa; twin brothers Verl (Marie) Arentson and Gene (Darlene) Arentson both of Harlan; 17 grandchildren: Melany Spiehs, Amber Linthakham, Jordan Christensen, Shelby Estep, Nathan Brace, Matthew Brace, Christopher Brace, Caleb Brace, Lucas Brace, Thomas Christensen, Carrie DeSpain, Scott Christensen, Laura McKinney, Hope Christensen, Adam Christensen, Jonathan Christensen, and Evan Christensen, 11 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
Family request memorials be made to: Iowa Regular Baptist Camp.
Social Distancing Standards will be observed for services.
https://youtu.be/eyLHiDi3VIE
Joyce Leanna Christensen, daughter of Eddie and Alice (Peterson) Arentson was born September 18, 1935 in Harlan, Iowa. Joyce attended Lincoln #4 country school through 8th grade and graduated from Harlan High School in 1953. She was very involved in 4-H, having served as a county officer until she went to college. Joyce immediately attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Joyce began teaching kindergarten in Exira, Iowa and taught in Exira for four years and taught second grade at Irwin-Kirkman School for one year. On June 16, 1956, Joyce married Stanley Christensen at Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan.
Joyce accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at 12 years of age and was baptized and became a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan. Joyce taught children in Sunday School at Bethel Baptist. Joyce and her husband became Charter members of Grace Baptist Church in 1974. She continued to teach Sunday School at Grace Baptist. Teaching children in Sunday School was her passion in serving the Lord and Savior and she taught for over 50 years. Joyce taught and served in Awana program at Grace Baptist Church from 1974 until spring of 2020.
One of her greatest joys was being with her 17 grandchildren and cooking them their favorite foods and baking their favorite desserts. She loved raising beautiful flowers and enjoyed numerous trips to view the cherry blossoms in spring time in Washington DC. Her daughter Beth Ann was not only her daughter but also her best friend.
Joyce died in her home in Harlan on Monday, June 1, 2020 attaining the age of eighty-fours years, eight months and fourteen days. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of nearly 64 years Stanley Christensen of Harlan, Iowa; children Curt (Amy) Christensen of Omaha, Nebraska; Beth Ann (Todd) Brace of rural Defiance, Iowa; Kyle (Suzanne) Christensen of rural Defiance, Iowa; Joel (Valerie) Christensen of Severance, Colorado; sister Mary Nichols-Olson of Marshalltown, Iowa; twin brothers Verl (Marie) Arentson and Gene (Darlene) Arentson both of Harlan; 17 grandchildren: Melany Spiehs, Amber Linthakham, Jordan Christensen, Shelby Estep, Nathan Brace, Matthew Brace, Christopher Brace, Caleb Brace, Lucas Brace, Thomas Christensen, Carrie DeSpain, Scott Christensen, Laura McKinney, Hope Christensen, Adam Christensen, Jonathan Christensen, and Evan Christensen, 11 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
Family request memorials be made to: Iowa Regular Baptist Camp.
Social Distancing Standards will be observed for services.
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