Joyce Joan Wagner, the daughter of William and Edna (Schierholz) Lux, was born on April 27, 1933, in Hartley, Iowa. She spent her youth in the Hartley area along with siblings Dale, LaVonne, Adella and Janet. She received her education at Moneta Consolidated School in Moneta, Iowa, graduating with the class of 1950. During her senior year, Joyce had worked Saturdays at the Security State Bank in Hartley. Following graduation from high school, she continued to work there until her retirement 38 years later.

On February 6, 1965, Joyce was united in marriage to Otto “Junior” Wagner at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. They made their home in Hartley and were part of that community for the remainder of their lives.

Joyce loved to cook and bake! Whether it was a new recipe or a “tried and true” from her mother, she enjoyed the time spent in her kitchen turning out delicious things to eat or share with friends.

After Joyce and Junior had retired, they decided to escape the cold, Iowa winters and spent several years taking in the warm, Arizona sunshine. Of course, it was always good to be back home again once the ground had thawed out because that meant it wouldn’t be long before they could start planting garden. They both found great pleasure in working the soil, tending young plants and enjoying the rewards of their labor. 

On Friday, December 19, 2025, Joyce passed from this life at the age of 92 years. She now joins loved ones who had gone before: her husband, Junior Wagner (2024); her parents, William and Edna Lux; her mother and father-in-law, Otto and Lillie Wagner; her brother, Dale Lux and his wife, Darlene; her sisters: LaVonne Van Houten and her husband, Roy “Jr.”, and Adella Baumgarn and her husband, Don; nephews: Jeffrey Shinkle and Doug Baumgarn; and her brother-in-law, Dean Wagner.

Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Janet Shinkle and her husband, Dan of Milford, Iowa; sister-in-law, Joyce Wagner of Spencer, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews; and special neighbors and friends, Clayton and Nancy Pyle.