Joyce A. (Depoy) Duskie

Joyce Ann (DePoy) Duskie was born April 4, 1941, in Beloit, Kansas, the fourth child of seven to Harry and Josephine (Verhage) DePoy. She won her fight with ALS and passed Wednesday May 15, 2024, at Via Christi-Ridge Skilled Nursing, Wichita, KS, surrounded by loving family members.

On June 4th, 1958, Joyce married the love of her life Robert (Jerry) Duskie in Newkirk, OK. This union of love extended for 61 years, and they were blessed with seven children, fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandson. Joyce and Jerry spent the first three years in their home in Berwyn, IL. They spent this time exploring the Chicago area and starting a family. Joyce, Jerry and family moved back to the Joe Duskie farm until the Waconda Lake development in 1965. Joyce and Jerry spent the next 35 years living in the Glen Elder and Cawker City area continuing to grow their family.

Joyce was a devoted loving wife and mother; the care of her husband and children was her most beloved responsibility. She was a multi-tasker before multi-tasking was cool, busy with support to farming, an excellent seamstress, avid gardener, and working several jobs outside the home. But her highest priority was always her family. Joyce was always present at the many school programs, athletic events, and other community and church activities. She devoted time as a co-leader for Jr. Y-teens and an active member in the Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Ladies Guild. Somehow, as the children were growing and Joyce was a master at taking care of family and home, she added a nursing degree to her list of masteries. She worked as an LPN at Osborne Retirement Center, Downs Nursing Center, and in Florida, as she and Jerry moved after raising seven children.

Joyce and Jerry moved to Lake City, Florida for another adventure. They had raised their children who had scattered around the country and world. They had also been blessed with their first five grandchildren while still in Kansas, and the move to Lake City allowed them to be closer to two grandchildren in Orlando. Joyce worked with Catholic Charities while in Lake City and she continued her love of craftiness! She thrived at cross-stitching, crocheting and was introduced to quilting. Joyce spent thousands of hours quilting, crocheting afghans, and cross-stitching. Soon she got a computerized embroidery sewing machine and her masteries continued. Joyce made over 100 quilts for family members. Each child and grandchild have at least one quilt designed and specifically made for them. She also made many quilts for sisters and brothers and friends.  She made a quilt for an auction in Texas at son Steve's law firm along with a quilt for son Kevin's post office. Joyce found her niche with quilting and joined the Lady of the Lake quilt club in Lake City. The group travelled around Florida and southern Georgia to shop for quilting material and patterns. The computerized embroidery machine was a joy to her life! She put emblems on diapers for burp rags, pillowcases, towels, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. The good Lord put craftiness in the blood of this woman. She crocheted afghans for her children, grandchildren, great-grandson and other family and friends. Joyce has fifteen grandchildren and one great grandson. She crocheted 29 baby afghans for her future great grandchildren.

Throughout her life Joyce was devoted to her Catholic faith. She was an active member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City and member of Epiphany Catholic Church in Lake City, FL. Joyce's devotion of faith carried her through the good times and the hard times, and she was an inspiration to all who knew her. She lived her faith and was devoted to the needs of family, friends and the community, constantly updating her "prayer list" to be supportive of the needs of others. Joyce was diagnosed with ALS in July 2022 and moved to Via Christ-Ridge Assisted Living to be near her daughter Liz. Wichita was a central enough location, and she received many visitors and was loved by the staff. She participated in Lumen Christi Chapel mass (a part of St. Catherine of Sienna).

Joyce was preceded in death by the love of her life, Jerry, who passed away in 2019. She was also preceded in death by her son Jeremy, her parents, Harry and Josephine DePoy, and her brother Jimmy DePoy.

Joyce is survived by daughters: Elizabeth Hobson of Wichita, KS, Sherry (Brad) Pierce of Orlando, FL and Kelly (Jim) Schaeffer of Houston, TX; sons: Steve (Laura) of Killeen, TX, Kevin (Heather) of Houston, TX, Eric (Jennifer) of Athens, AL and daughter-in-law Wendy (Jeremy) Duskie of Kansas City, KS; fifteen grandchildren: Sarah (Al) Turner, Logan Hobson, Joseph Duskie, Rachel (Jeffery) Hahn, Paige Duskie, Ryan Pierce, Allison Schaeffer, Madison Schaeffer, Meghan Schaeffer, Connor Duskie, Zachary Duskie, Hannah Duskie, Kelsey Duskie, Jaxson Duskie and Nathan Duskie; one great-grandchild: John Turner; brothers: Julian DePoy, Carey, NC and Perry DePoy, Eagle Butte, SD; sisters: Helen Luckey, San Antonio, TX, Marilyn Straley, Freehold NJ, and Donna Storie, Jacksonville, NC.

A Memorial Mass was held at 10 a.m. Thursday May 16, 2024, at the Lumen Christi Chapel in Wichita, KS. A Funeral Mass will be at 10 AM Thursday, July 3, 2025 at the Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City followed by burial of the cremains at Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery at Cawker City.