Joyce (Rowland) Young

Joyce Ann (Rowland) Young, 71, of Pawnee City, Nebraska passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska.  She was born to Charles (Sandy) and Velma Rowland on December 9, 1947 in Pawnee City, Nebraska.

Joyce married David Young November 2, 1968 in Calumet City, Illinois and to this union two children were born.

Joyce spent her childhood on the family farm just west of Pawnee City and remained there until graduation from Pawnee City High School in 1966.  Upon graduation she moved to Omaha, Nebraska where she live with family until finding work in a law office.   Shortly thereafter, she moved to Chicago, again following family and work.  Here she was married and gave birth to a son, Michael in 1969 and daughter, Jane in 1975. She remained there until 1984 when she returned home to Pawnee City, Nebraska.  During the next 30 years she worked in various jobs including almost 20 years at the Pawnee Manor in nutrition services.

Joyce was a lover of the Blues and an avid photographer.  She spent much of her time following sports of all kinds and none more than her beloved Huskers.  Her travels spanned many destinations including Chicago, Arizona, the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, Paris, and her yearly trips to the Indy 500 with friends and family.  Family was the purest delight in her life.  The bonds between parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, filled her life with joy, laughter, and love.  Her great gift to shine her light through others was unmistakable.  She reveled in their joys, achievements, and passions more than her own.  Joyce touched the souls in her life in a way that forever altered them. 

She is survived by her sister Mary Sparenberg and husband Terry, sister Nancy Wahlstrom and husband Andy, brother Ronnie Rowland and wife Brenda, sister in law Barbara Rowland, brother in law Bill Zwygart, children Michael Young and wife Karen Whitson and Jane McComas and husband Shannon, 5 grandchildren Megan, Karlie, Jack, Hadley, Evelyn, 47 nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Sandy and Velma Rowland, brother Chuck Rowland, sister Linda Zwygart, brother David Rowland, niece Annette Wright, and nephew Noah Delgado.

Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 19, 2019 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Steinauer, Nebraska. Officiating Father Michael Christensen, along with Deacon Marty Smith.  Visitation on Sunday, August 18, 2019 from noon to 8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska. Interment at the Pawnee City Cemetery, Pawnee City, Nebraska. Memorials to St.Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com. 

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