Joy Eischeid (Garvin), 79, passed away peacefully due to complications of heart arrhythmia and heart failure at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids on August 9, 2021. When the Lord called her home, her hands were held by her three daughters and husband of over sixty years.
Joy was born July 20, 1942 in Waterloo, Iowa, one of six children to parents Jack and Doris (Rowell) Garvin. She was baptized and confirmed at her lifelong church, Bethel Presbyterian. She graduated from North High School in 1960, where she twirled the baton as head majorette, boogied at sock hops, and represented her class at Homecoming all four years. She also met the love of her life, Mike Eischeid, living seven miles south in Fayette. Mike and Joy were married January 28, 1961 and their nearly sixty-one-year love affair would include three daughters – Jennifer, Julie and Kate.
These high school sweethearts came from humble beginnings but they had big dreams. After Mike’s graduation from Upper Iowa University, he was drafted into the NFL as a kicker. Despite injuries and roster cuts, they persevered and went on to share a remarkable journey as a part of the Chicago Bear, Oakland Raider, and Minnesota Viking organizations, including three Super Bowls. Upon Mike’s retirement from football in 1974, they settled in West Union to be closer to family and raise their daughters.
One of the best decisions made moving back to West Union was to put a small pool in the backyard. Joy loved being around water of any kind, and she shared many summer days with family and friends around the pool with her dad’s homegrown popcorn and Diet 7 Up. She was active around town in PEO, Bethel Presbyterian Stephen Ministry, various bible circles, serving as the high school cheerleading advisor, and loving her neighbors through homecooked meals, cards and conversations. She loved going to sit on her mom’s kitchen counter to visit over coffee, Wednesday nights around the table with the Garvin/Rowell gals, Boot Hill dinners with WUCC friends, and being on the Mississippi River.
Life brought several additional moves to Geneva, Minnetonka, Grand Forks, Cedar Rapids and eventually retirement back in West Union. As the heart and soul of our family, home was never a zip code but rather wherever she was. To know her was to feel deeply loved. She was a generous giver of her time and treasures. She was aptly named and brought her endless joy, light, and laughter to strangers and friends alike. She was our soft place to fall and truly one of a kind. When we think of her, we remember her love of family card night, TJ Maxx, Christmastime, jean jackets, cute shoes, piano duets, football, dogs, decorating her home for the seasons, perms and curling irons, knitting afghans for those she loved, a good margarita, slalom waterskiing, and hosting grandchildren for a week of Camp Joy.
Joy is survived by her beloved husband, Michael; daughters Jenny, Julie Creery (Dave), and Kate Pithan (Tony); grandchildren Joshua Willis (Brian), Mallory Meyer (Mitchell), Brandon Weidemann, Hannah Pithan, Ellie Pithan, Nick Creery (Ramey) and Libby Creery; great grandchildren Myla Meyer, Quentin and Emersyn Creery; siblings Gail Wilbur, Mark Garvin (Jill), Noel Garvin (Chynia), Paula Clark (Jeff), and Scott Garvin (Jo); Sister and brother-in-law Peg and Bob Reinert, as well as numerous relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Doris Garvin, in-laws Eb and Jean Eischeid, brother-in-law Bob Wilbur, sister-in-law Patricia Wessels, and niece Alison Garvin.
We would like to thank the medical teams at St. Luke’s ICU and Gundersen Palmer Hospital and Clinics for their extraordinary, kind and compassionate care.
Memorials may be directed to the Gundersen Palmer Foundation or Bethel Presbyterian Church.
A Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Friday, August 13, 2021 at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home in West Union, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Saturday.
Funeral Services will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union, Iowa with Rev. Don Best as the officiant.
Burial will follow in the West Union Cemetery in West Union, Iowa.
Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in West Union, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.