Clara Joyce Vandeventer

Clara Joyce (Baldwin) Vandeventer stepped into the presence of her Lord and Savior on October 2, 2025, with her husband by her side. Joyce was born at Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa, Kansas, on April 2, 1944, to James W. Baldwin and Colleen (Pinney) Baldwin. Joyce was raised by her loving grandparents, John and Clara (Finch) Baldwin, after the death of her mother on January 8, 1947. Joyce always lived in Franklin County, attended Garfield Elementary, and graduated from Ottawa High School in 1962.

Joyce was united in Holy Matrimony to Kenny Vandeventer on July 22, 1962. After their wedding trip, they moved into their home in rural Franklin County, where they resided to present day. Last July, they celebrated 63 years of marriage. The Lord blessed their union with 5 children: Shane (Deborah), Cynde, Heath (Angela), Angela (Daniel), Slade (Jennifer). They were also blessed with 19 grandchildren and currently 9 great-grandchildren.

Joyce was preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Clara Baldwin, parents, James and Colleen Baldwin, her step-mother, Maxine Baldwin, her half-brother, Robert Baldwin, also grandparents, Fred and Muriel Pinney, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Besides her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, she is survived by her brother, Jim (Janet) Baldwin, Butler, Missouri; half-sister, Janet Stowe, Houston, Texas; sister-in-law, Vickie Baldwin, rural Ottawa, Kansas; former sister-in-law, Joyce (Bill) Ginter, Waynesville, Ohio.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 10th, at Calvary Baptist Church in Ottawa, Kansas, with visitation at 9:00 a.m., followed by a private family burial.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Calvary Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Academy, or Christian Aid Mission c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.

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