Joyce Margaret Brennan, 88, of Lansing, Iowa, died peacefully Sunday, October 7, 2018 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Joyce was born July 6, 1930 in Churchtown, rural Allamakee County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Archibald and Jennie (Peterson) Uren. She graduated from Lansing High School in 1948 and earned a teaching degree from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. She married Daniel J. Brennan on Nov. 19, 1952 at Sacred Heart Church, Waterloo, Iowa.
She taught country school after college and then worked in the payroll department at Rath Packing in Waterloo, Iowa. After their marriage, she stayed home several years to raise their family. She then worked at Brennan Construction, Lansing, Iowa until her retirement. She was an active member of I.C. Catholic Church choir and an officer with the Lansing chapter of the American Legion Auxiliary. Her great joys in life included attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, reading, gardening, playing cards and spending time with friends.
Joyce is survived by eight children, James (Janette) Brennan of Lansing, IA, Martin (Karen) Brennan of Lansing, IA, Gerald (Carol) Brennan of Burnsville, MN, Teresa (Tim) Hogan of West Des Moines, IA, Ellen (Kirk) Dettmann of Onalaska, WI, Janet (Patrick) Heiderscheit of Lansing, IA, Michael (Kerry) Brennan of Lansing, IA, Elizabeth (Patrick) Peloquin, of Rosenberg, TX; 23 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, a sister-in-law, Margaret Hogan, of Lansing, IA, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three sisters, Dorothy Van Brocklin, Ruby Olson, and Shirley Koenen, and nieces and nephews Barbara (Van Brocklin) King, Thomas Van Brocklin, Connie (Van Brocklin) Young and David Olson.
The family sends a special thank you to the staff of Mayo Clinic Health Systems for their empathetic care and the “Angels in the Home” who looked after her for the last several months.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Diabetes Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) or any charity of donor’s choice.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 pm with a 3:30 Rosary and a 4:00 Scripture Service on Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before Mass at the church on Thursday.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Lansing, Iowa with Rev. John Moser as the Celebrant.
Burial will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery, Lansing, Iowa.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Lansing, Iowa is helping the family with arrangements.