Joyce Heins

Joyce A. Heins, 85, of Postville died Sunday, December 20, 2020 at Good Samaritan Society in Postville. A Private Memorial Service was held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville with Rev. Lynn Noel as the officiant. Private burial took place at Luana Cemetery, Luana.
Joyce was born December 11, 1935 to Elliott and Verna (Stafford) Nelson in Postville. She was baptized May 12, 1936 and confirmed April 17, 1949, both at Luana Methodist Church. Joyce graduated from Luana High School in 1953. After high school, Joyce worked for the FBI in Washington, DC as a mail girl.

Joyce was united in marriage with Hilery Heins June 12, 1954 at Luana Methodist Church. Joyce went with Hilery to Puerto Rico where he was stationed in the Air Force. Two children were born to this union. After Hilery was discharged, they farmed near Castalia and also farmed for eight years around the Postville area.

Besides being the wife of a farmer, Joyce worked at Waters Dairy in Postville and at the office of Hy Grade for a few years. She also worked for a short time in the office of Impac Milling, was a secretary to the teachers at the Postville School for a year and worked in the office at the Postville Hospital. Joyce also worked as Office Manager at Iowa Turkey Products for years and retired from there in 1998.

Joyce loved traveling, playing cards and dancing. She loved spending time with her grandchildren as family was very important to her.

Surviving Joyce are her children, Debra Heins of Postville and Lynn (Rose) Heins of Postville; two grandchildren, Nathan (Ashley) Heins of Waukon and Sara (Brandon) Clark of Brownsville, MN; seven great-grandchildren, Reid, Elliott and Violet Heins, and Morgan, Carsten, Gabriel and Gannen Clark; and one sister, Beverly Bacon.

Preceding Joyce in death were her parents, Elliott and Vera Nelson; and her husband, Hilery Heins in 2008.

Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Postville assisted the family with arrangements.