Joyce S. Lyman, 96, Sibley

A memorial service for Joyce S. Lyman was held Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Sanborn Funeral Home Chapel in Sanborn. Pastor Judy Johnson officiated. Interment was in Harrison Township Cemetery near May City. Sanborn Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Joyce Shirley Lyman was born in Osceola County to Clarence and Rose (Bock) Newkirk on June 18, 1926. Upon graduation from Hartley High School in Hartley, she completed the Normal Training Course and received her teaching certificate. She then taught in the country school system for two years.

Joyce was united in marriage to Duane Marvin Lyman on June 25, 1946, at the Methodist Church in Melvin. To this union two children were born: Nancy and Larry. The family lived in Melvin until 1964 when Duane’s job took them to Estherville. They relocated to Fairmont, Minn. when he became manager of the Golden Sun Feed Store there. Along with caring for her family, Joyce found employment at the Jeffrey Hallmark Shop in downtown Fairmont, a job she enjoyed for eight years. They eventually moved back to Estherville and lived there until Duane’s retirement in 1989.

Wanting to be closer to family and old friends, they decided to settle down in familiar surroundings and moved back to the town of Melvin. Life in a small Iowa town definitely had its upside, as Joyce had more time for the things she liked to do most: gardening, embroidery fancywork and crochet. Over the years, many beautiful handmade items and afghans were shared among friends and family members. She enjoyed times spent with neighbors and relatives alike, and will be remembered for her work ethic, friendly personality and ability to make others laugh.

Joyce was a member of the United Methodist Church as well as the American Legion Auxiliary, both in Melvin, and a past-member of the VFW Auxiliary in Estherville. She and Duane made Sibley Specialty Care in Sibley their new home in 2014. Joyce spent many contented hours there watching all the different birds that came and went outside her window. When Duane passed away in July of 2015, Joyce remained living at the care center in Sibley until her passing on Dec. 1, 2022, at the age of 96 years.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Larry (Evelyn) Lyman, of Hull; six grandchildren: Shawn (Jamie) Lyman, Tim Lyman, Jay (Leanne) Lyman, Jerry (Jean) Beckmann, Jodi (Chris) Philen and Emily (Tim) Gilbertson; 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; her sister, Cleone Ellingson, of Hartley; many other relatives and friends.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Duane Lyman; daughter, Nancy Beckmann; her parents, Clarence and Rose Newkirk; and brothers: Dean Newkirk and Lloyd Newkirk.