Joyce Maurine Wilke

Joyce Maurine Wilke, 95, passed away Sunday, May 4, 2014 in Prairie Hills, Tipton, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Tipton at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 with Pastor Donnita Moeller officiating. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com. Friends may call on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Fry Funeral Home. After graduating from Bode, Iowa High School, she entered St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Education. She taught school for ten years at Grinnell and West Liberty and spent her summers studying at the University of Colorado and New York University. In 1950 she and Elmer Wilke were united in marriage at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Humboldt, Iowa. They were blessed with one daughter. They lived in their farmhouse south of Tipton for 29 years then retired and moved into Tipton. Joyce was a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Tipton. In earlier years she was a Sunday School teacher, a member of the church choir, the Ruth Circle and on many committees. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Merrick and husband Ken of Vancouver, Washington, a brother Miles (Edna) Holden of Humboldt and several nieces and a nephew. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer in 1990, her parents Oscar and Marie Holden of Humboldt, sisters Violet Berge of Garner, Iowa, Bernice Coyle of Las Angeles and Bonita Alexander of Humboldt. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joyce's memory may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Tipton or a charity of your choice.