Joyce Elaine Meeker

It is with great sadness that we announce that Joyce Meeker, 75, passed away on February 17, 2026 in Wichita, KS after a long illness with her daughter Kristin at her side. Joyce was born and raised in Fremont, Nebraska where she attended Trinity Lutheran School. She was a confirmed Lutheran and sang in the church choir. She was a lifelong Nebraska Cornhuskers fan. She collected ceramic turtles and roosters. She was also an avid puzzler with many of her puzzles being framed and given to family members as gifts. She loved dark chocolate with almonds, Diet Coke, Chick-Fil -A, McDonald’s breakfast and going to Village Inn. She was a great cook and her deviled egg recipe was legendary. She met her first husband Dean Schaller, and they welcomed their daughter Kristin into the world on May 25th, 1977. Joyce also helped raise Deans’ 4 other children: Teresa, Greg, Deanna, and Tim for about 5 years before irreconcilable differences separated them. Joyce later met and married Lon Meeker, an avid golfer and devout Lutheran, and they moved several times to Scott City, Garden City, Towanda, and eventually Wichita, KS. Lon unfortunately died at a fairly young age due to cancer, something Joyce never fully recovered from. Kristin was with or near Joyce practically her entire life. Joyce even went as far as buying a home near Kristin to be closer to Kristin and the grandchildren. Joyce worked as a church secretary, a legal assistant, parts expediter at Rusty Eck Ford before spending her last few decades working at Walmart on East Kellogg in Wichita into her early 70’s. Her home was kept spotless. She was very organized and meticulous. Unfortunately, being a lifelong smoker caught up with her and she spent the last few years of her life on oxygen. Down the homestretch of her life, she watched the Hallmark channel exclusively and nothing else. Her grandchildren were sources of great pride and joy to her as her bedroom was surrounded by pictures of the grandkids. She was also preceded in death by her parents Albert and Verna Kruger and Donald Kruger, her older brother and also by her cats: Angel, Inky and Putzy. She is survived by her daughter Kristin Yeley (Greg), grandchildren: Kylee and Cody Lynch, Elizabeth Yeley, Hannah Yeley, Nathanael Yeley, Joshua Yeley and Sarah Yeley and great-grandson Nicholas Yeley Stone-Kirk who was born 2 weeks before Joyce passed. Joyce who had an amazing wit and loved sarcasm is probably telling me to shut up already. Joyce will be missed. She was a very private, down-to-earth person and lived life on her terms until the end. Until we meet again…. We love you Joyce: Mom, Grandma and friend!
A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at 10:30am on Friday - March 6th, 2026 at Westside Church of the Nazarene at 2300 S Seneca in Wichita, KS