Joyce W. Stepanek

6/21/1933 - 7/4/2021 Elkhorn - Joyce Woodrow Stender Stepanek was born June 21, 1933. She grew up in the Benson area of Omaha and graduated from Benson High School. Joyce was united in marriage to Gerald Stepanek on May 17, 1952. They had two daughters: Barbara and Carol. Joyce raised her girls with love and supported them whole heartedly in their activities. She worked part time as the church secretary at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. When her girls were grown she sold Mary Kay cosmetics and worked her way up to director. Joyce and Jerry loved to travel, including cruises to Alaska and Hawaii, and many fishing trips. They were also snowbirds, traveling to Texas every year to get away from the Nebraska winters. They would go down in the fall, making sure to come home to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with family, and then back down to Texas until April. They began this adventure with a motor home, and then ended up buying a park model down there. When Jerry had heart issues they decided it was best to stay in Omaha full time again. The decision was made to move to the independent living facility at Elk Ridge Village in Elkhorn, NE and they were there for about 2 years before moving to the assisted living side. When Joyce had a bad fall that broke her hip and shoulder, and was also showing signs of dementia, she moved into the memory care wing at Elk Ridge. She had another fall on June 28th and broke her other hip. She had surgery but was never able to rally from it. She died peacefully on the morning of July 4th. During her life she was very active in church as well as Daughters of the Nile, Eastern Star and Rainbow Girls organizations. She enjoyed bowling, going to the lake, square dancing, fishing, and playing cards with friends. She also loved hand work projects like knitting, crochet, embroidery, and made many quilts and purses. She always had some crafting project going. Joyce was a kind and loving person who was appreciated and loved by many. Her family were her most valuable people. She was always interested in each persons life and she will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her mother, Joyce Locher, as well as two grandsons, Jonathan Nelson and Caleb Nelson. She is survived by her devoted husband of 69 years, Gerald Stepanek; Daughters Barbara Nelson and Carol Harder; grandchildren Alicia Enquist, Peter Nelson, Anna Nelson , Anna Lackore, Micah Nelson, Luke Nelson, Josiah Nelson, Levi Nelson, Grace Nelson and fiancé Alim Musah, Mo Oltman, Nash Oltman, Kendyl Oltman; and 27 great grandchildren. Visitation Thursday   5 :00 - 7:00 PM at Roeder Mortuary. Funeral Service Friday 10:00 AM at Millard Alliance Church 15405 Adams St. Millard, NE. Interment Voss-Mohr Cemetery. Memorials to Millard Alliance Church. Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - 108th Street Chapel 2727 N 108th St - Omaha, NE - 402-496-9000 www.RoederMortuary.com