Joyce M. Thurn
Joyce Marie Thurn, 89, of Edgewood, passed away on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, at her home. She was born on April 4, 1936, in rural Elkport, the daughter of John Jr. and Mildred (Dahl) Kuehl. Joyce was very proud of attending country school Volga #3 (Grandview) through eighth grade. She graduated as valedictorian of the Elkader High School class of 1953. Joyce then attended Iowa State Teachers College and taught elementary school in Maynard and then Colesburg. She was a teacher in all aspects of her life.
On July 15, 1962, Joyce was united in marriage to Francis Thurn at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Elkport, where she had been baptized and confirmed. After the flood that destroyed the church, she became a founding member of the Immanuel Preservation Society.
After Joyce and Francis’s marriage, she became a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Littleport. She was a true partner with Francis and farmwife on the family century farm north of Edgewood. Joyce was involved in all aspects of church life, including teaching and being a Sunday school superintendent, teaching generations of families. She was a long-time church council secretary, member of the ladies’ group and a fixture at the annual homemade ice cream social.
Joyce valued volunteerism within the community, including Edgewood Garden Club, Edgewood Library Board and the Edgewood Women’s Club. She never missed the annual Clayton County Fair, showing flowers and garden produce for decades.
She was a lifelong gardener, especially loving her dahlias and zinnias. Joyce enjoyed sharing her flowers with others and decorating the Hope Church altar every Sunday. Along with flowers, Joyce was the matriarch of Thurn Pumpkins, helping her children and grandchildren grow fall produce for over 50 years. Many knew her as the “Pumpkin Lady.”
Survivors include her two children, Richard Thurn of Edgewood and Michele (Steve) Von Handorf of Guttenberg; three grandchildren, Hannah (Jacob) Wille, Abigail (Jordan) Anderson and Josef (Leah Wille) Von Handorf; her two great-grandchildren, Emma Francis Wille and Crew Wille; her brother, Ronald (Mary) Kuehl; and sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Thurn) McGuffin.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, John Jr. and Mildred Kuehl; her husband of 51 years, Francis Thurn (2013); and brother in-law, Paul McGuffin.
In all aspects of her life, Joyce will always be considered a life-long teacher.
Visitation was on Feb. 13, at Hope Lutheran Church in Littleport. Funeral service was on Feb. 14, also at the church, with Reverend Mark Yackel-Juleen officiating. Interment was at Union Cemetery, Littleport.
Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.
