Funeral services for Joyce M. Mitchell, 85, of Wayne will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30 at First United Methodist Church in Wayne. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29 at First United Methodist Church in Wayne. Burial will be in the Belden Cemetery at Belden.
Memorial funds in memory of Joyce may be directed to the Mitchell family for later designation.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
Joyce died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy- Omaha.
Joyce M. Mitchell was born in Laurel on March 19, 1940. She was raised on a farm near Belden, went to country school, and then on to Belden High, where she met the love of her life (Gene). They were married in 1956, and for the first nine years of their marriage, they also farmed near Belden. While raising three young sons, Joyce became a non-traditional college student at Wayne State. The family moved to Wayne in 1966 and she completed her college education in 1967. That same year, she started her career as an educator at Laurel-Concord High School. After three years of carpooling and commuting to Laurel, she moved to the Wayne Middle School and specialized in 7th and 8th grade History and English. After 35 years in education, she retired in 2002.
Her hobbies were reading, writing, cooking, sewing, and quilting. She always took great pride in her work. Her greatest love was her family, especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always made sure that each one would get a Christmas gift that was handmade with an inscription of “made with love.” Over the years, she has had various roles within the church, was involved in a book club, as well a few other organizations. For many years she co-sponsored a “Fun Camp” at Wayne State College for local young students to expand their creative skills.
Joyce is survived by her three sons, Rick (Marie) Mitchell of Maize, Kansas, Robert (Bobbie) Mitchell of Gretna and Daniel (Laura) Mitchell of Yankton, South Dakota; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren; sister, Jeanne Dempsay of Greenwood, Kansas, brother, Ronald (Bonnie) Halleen of Lincoln; nieces; nephews; and cousins.
Preceding Joyce in death were her parents; husband, Gene on April 27, 2025; and brother-in-law, Ralph Dempsay.
