JOYCE LORAINE  KASTENGREN, 89, of rural Aurelia, Iowa, passed away peacefully, Friday morning, August 18, 2017 in the Cherokee Regional Medical Center, surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 26 ^th , at 2:30 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Pastor David Wertz will officiate. Burial will be in the Afton Township Cemetery at rural Cherokee, Iowa. Visitation will be on Friday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Joyce was born on April 13, 1928 to Richard and Hilda (Smith) Lawrey on the family farm in rural Cherokee, County, Iowa. She attended Larrabee School and graduated from Larrabee Consolidated High School in 1946. She attended Buena Vista College in 1946-1947 receiving her teaching certificate. She taught country school in rural Everly, Iowa from 1947 until her marriage to Leonard Kastengren on October 16, 1948 in Cherokee, Iowa. To this union three children were born, Marilyn (Kastengren) Zadow, David Kastengren, and Janet (Kastengren) Huffstutler. Joyce and Leonard lived in rural Aurelia, Iowa. She was actively engaged in the farming operation with her husband Leonard. She continued to do so after her husband's passing in 1998 until the present. She was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on September 23, 1973 and was an avid student of the Bible. She enjoyed flower gardening, vegetable gardening, and was an avid quilter. She also enjoyed her apple orchard, cooking, painting, art, music, and found joy in teaching others. Most of all she cherished visits with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. All who knew her were touched by her gentle, kind, and intelligent spirit.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Hilda Lawrey, her husband Leonard Kastengren on February 24, 1998, her brother Virgil Lawrey, and a great grandson Johnathan Rosentrater.

She is survived by her three children and their spouses: daughter, Marilyn (Kevin) Zadow of Aurelia, Iowa; son, David (Patricia) Kastengren of rural Aurelia, Iowa; daughter, Janet (Steven) Huffstutler of Ocala, Florida; 12 grandchildren: Kurt (Kari) Rosentrater, Ryan (Karen) Rosentrater, Carrie Pruett, Jennifer (Branden) Bullington, Elliott Zadow, Eric (Robin) Kastengren, Sheri (Ron) Lau, Heather (Matt) Allen, Alan (Jennifer) Kastengren, Laura (Jesse) Medina, John (Brenna) Huffstutler, David (Ellie) Huffstutler; 28 great grandchildren; three brothers: Owen Lawrey of Cave Creek, Arizona, Russell (Louise) Lawrey of Sioux City, Iowa; Steve Lawrey of Sioux City, Iowa; five sisters: Loretta June Holcroft of Texarkana, Arkansas; Iona Hansen of Sioux City, Iowa; Ruby Wertz of Spencer, Iowa; Ruth Dodge of Longmont, Colorado; Ardith (Bruce) Lucas of Sioux City, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Marion (Brad) Tate of Bayard, Iowa; Shirley Bengtsson of Longmont, Colorado; and many nieces and nephews.