Joyce True
June 9, 1938 — June 12, 2024
Joyce Evelyn Barker Pieken True was born June 9th, 1938, to Willie and Neoma Barker. In 1954 she married Kenneth Pieken and to this union they had three children, Terry, Pam, & Tim. In 1963, after Kenneth’s passing, Joyce and the kids moved to Avoca. A year later a handsome gentleman singing in the Presbyterian Church choir caught her eye and knew immediately he was the one. Joyce and William True were married January 7th, 1972 making this proclaimed “townie” a “farm wife & country girl”. They had two children, William II (Bill) & Donna.
She loved her family fiercely and the farm was home to many as everyone was always welcome. If she found out you didn’t have a place to go for a holiday, she’d pull up another chair at the table and welcome you in like family.
Family gatherings were filled with great conversation, lots of laughs & good-hearted banter around a puzzle, board game or a family favorite, a game of Canasta.
She was a wonderful cook and at Christmas she pulled out all the stops w/endless containers of goodies. Her peanut brittle will go down in history as THE BEST.
Joyce felt closest to God outside working in the garden or tending to her flowers. She had the greenest of thumbs. Over the years Joyce was on a bowling league, president and active member of the garden club, taught swimming lessons, Cub Scout leader, helped in numerous areas at the United Church of Avoca including Sunday School teacher. She was instrumental in helping to restore the Courthouse in Avoca and also very active with the museum. She also had worked in the kitchen at the school and the nursing home in Avoca.
She was so proud of their family and I know she would say her family was her greatest accomplishment and she absolutely loved farm life. She said there was no other life to live than in the country on a farm. They enjoyed family gatherings so much and she enjoyed spending time with her friends. Bill and Joyce were married for 45 years until his passing on June 9th, 2017. They acquired 17 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husbands Kenneth Pieken and William True and son Tim Pieken. Survivors include her children: Terry (Connie) Pieken of Avoca, IA; Pam Beasley of Springfield, MO; William (Bill) True II of Avoca, IA: Donna (Jeff) Slack of Viborg, SD; daughter-in-law Linda Pieken of Avoca, IA, 17 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren, along w/many other family members and friends.
She loved her family fiercely and the farm was home to many as everyone was always welcome. If she found out you didn’t have a place to go for a holiday, she’d pull up another chair at the table and welcome you in like family.
Family gatherings were filled with great conversation, lots of laughs & good-hearted banter around a puzzle, board game or a family favorite, a game of Canasta.
She was a wonderful cook and at Christmas she pulled out all the stops w/endless containers of goodies. Her peanut brittle will go down in history as THE BEST.
Joyce felt closest to God outside working in the garden or tending to her flowers. She had the greenest of thumbs. Over the years Joyce was on a bowling league, president and active member of the garden club, taught swimming lessons, Cub Scout leader, helped in numerous areas at the United Church of Avoca including Sunday School teacher. She was instrumental in helping to restore the Courthouse in Avoca and also very active with the museum. She also had worked in the kitchen at the school and the nursing home in Avoca.
She was so proud of their family and I know she would say her family was her greatest accomplishment and she absolutely loved farm life. She said there was no other life to live than in the country on a farm. They enjoyed family gatherings so much and she enjoyed spending time with her friends. Bill and Joyce were married for 45 years until his passing on June 9th, 2017. They acquired 17 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husbands Kenneth Pieken and William True and son Tim Pieken. Survivors include her children: Terry (Connie) Pieken of Avoca, IA; Pam Beasley of Springfield, MO; William (Bill) True II of Avoca, IA: Donna (Jeff) Slack of Viborg, SD; daughter-in-law Linda Pieken of Avoca, IA, 17 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren, along w/many other family members and friends.
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