Joyce Harrison

 Joyce E. Harrison, 89, of Sioux City (formerly of Kingsley) passed away peacefully on Monday, 

April 22, 2024, at her home at Northern Hills Assisted Living, surrounded by family. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 29th at Rohde Funeral Home in Kingsley, with Pastor Bob Dillman officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, April 28th from 5-7 p.m. followed by a prayer service led by Josh Carr, and 2 hours prior to services on Monday. Interment will be at Kingsley Cemetery. 

Joyce Elizabeth Harrison was born June 20, 1934, to Mildred E. (Luscombe) and Charles Sutherland. She spent her early years in Sioux City then moved to a farm outside of Kingsley after her mother and Charles divorced. Her mother later married Leon Gernhart, who she affectionately knew as “dad”. Joyce attended Garfield #5 country school thru the 7th grade until the school closed, then finished her schooling in Kingsley. 

Joyce was united in marriage to Nolan Harrison on October 11, 1951. They lived on a farm west of Kingsley until a fire destroyed their home. They then moved to town across from the old school until they purchased their home on South Hill, where they lived for over 30 years and raised their 10 children. Joyce worked tirelessly taking care of her kids, helping Nolan in his repair shop, and helping farm their small acreage north of town. After the last of her kids were grown, Joyce drove bus for the K-P School District for many years, and after Nolan died in 1987, she took on another job at Woodbury Homestead in Sioux City. It was there that she met John “Trapper” Eggink, who later became her companion of over 20 years until his death in 2010. 

Joyce had a competitive nature and enjoyed playing games, especially Sorry, Sequence, and Euchre, and going to the casino to play slots. She often spoke of her favorite road-trip to the Black Hills with her daughter, Sherri. Most days you would find her sitting in her recliner reading the newspaper or intently working on her Word Search Puzzles. She loved listening to classic country music and going to concerts. Her Alexa was well-trained and would play “cowboy” country music for her even when she called her Alyssa or Alicia; similar to her running thru the list of her kids' names before landing on the right one. Joyce was especially proud of her family. Though dementia stole pieces of her memory, she never forgot or missed an opportunity to boast of her 10 kids and her many grandkids, whom she loved and adored. 

Joyce is survived by her 10 kids, Susan (Dean) Dyke of Sidney, Kathy (Chuck) Sherwood of Aurelia, Vicky Schuldt of Le Mars, Jodie Leekley of Westfield, Jack (Rita) Harrison of Sloan, Cindy (Roy) Auen of Pierson, Sherri Harrison of Britt, Laurie Mitchell (Dean Johnson) of Hartford, SD, Tracy (Mike) Kerns of Oelwein, Tammi Harrison of Spencer, 19 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 

2 great-great grandchildren, her sister, Janet McKibbin, sisters-in-law, Sandy (Wayne) Mills, Karen Meyer, and Pat Ruba, and brother-in-law, Denny Ruba, as well as many nieces and nephews, and a special cousin, Betty Isbell. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Nolan, Trapper, her brother James, half-brothers, Robert "Bob" and Francis Weber, brother-in-law, Jim McKibbin, three stepbrothers, Ramon, Arthur, and Lewis “Bud” Gernhart, a stepsister, Lavonne Nugent, mother-in-law, Maxine Ruba, brothers-in-law Jerry and Mark Ruba, son-in-law, Duane Leekley, and an infant granddaughter, Shanda Riordan. 

A special thank you to all of Mom's caregivers over the past few months, including Roy and Cindy who cared for her in their home, those at Holy Spirit, Mercy Hospital, Kingsley Specialty Care, Hospice of Siouxland, and Heritage at Northern Hills Assisted Living, who made Mom's hopes of going home a reality. Mom will always be remembered for her spunk, tenacity, and her ability to work her way back from seemingly hopeless situations. She was one of the toughest old birds you'd ever meet and was so dearly loved by us all. 

Memorials may be directed to Siouxland Humane Society, where mom enjoyed visiting and would faithfully donate her newspapers for bedding.