Joyce Kutscher

1934 - 2024

Joyce Anne (Temborius) Kutscher, 89, of Fort Madison passed away at 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in Fort Madison.

On Dec. 31, 1934, Joyce was born to George C. and Sarah Mae (Flynn) Temborius. She remained a lifelong resident of Fort Madison.

After graduating from Catholic Central High School in 1952, Joyce went on to study at St. Mary of the Woods College in Terra Haute, Indiana, and St. Francis School of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois, where she graduated in 1956 with her nursing diploma. Later, after raising her family, she continued to pursue her education at Quincy University where she received her BSN in 1992.

Joyce married Thomas Kutscher in 1956 and enjoyed a full life with her husband as they raised their five daughters at their home, formerly at 1803 Avenue I, later retiring to the country where they loving tended the home they called "God's Country." There they welcomed a growing family with the addition of sons-in-law and grandchildren.

For 35 years Joyce was a professional associate with the Fort Madison Community Hospital (formerly Sacred Heart Hospital) where she held supervisory roles including Head Nurse, and administrative roles as Patient Advocate and Case Manager.

Leaving FMCH, Joyce went on to join the faculty at the Keokuk Campus of Southeast Iowa Community College. For 10 years she was a Freshman Clinical Nursing Instructor, later retiring from her professional services after a long and successful career.

While Joyce was passionate about her professional career, she was equally passionate and devoted to Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Her many volunteer activities in the church included being the lead sacristan for the church and coordinating that ministry, also serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Continuing her passion as an educator, Joyce was an assistant catechist in the second-grade classroom in the religious education program and enjoyed preparing the children for their First Holy Communion.

After completing her certification for the Diocese of Davenport, Joyce became an instructor for the RCIA program (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) where she assisted in presenting topics on the devotional aspects of the Catholic Faith. Joyce's devotion to the Divine Mercy spanned decades at Sacred Heart Parish, where she worked diligently to foster the growth of this devotion in the parish and deanery by organizing Holy Hours, sponsoring speakers (David and Joan Maroney), providing devotional materials to assist parishioners in becoming familiar with Divine Mercy.

Finally, residents in the Fort Madison Nursing Facility, SunnyBrook, and the Fort Madison Community Hospital could plan on a visit from Joyce on Saturday mornings as she brought the infirmed and sick Holy Communion and a little conversation each week for over 20 years.

Joyce was active in the community and could be counted on to assist where needed. She was a frequent volunteer for the Fort Madison community in the Meals-on-Wheels program, a driver for those in need to Iowa City Hospitals, a nurse for the first aid tent at the Tri-State Rodeo, and many other activities.

Joyce truly lived out a life of service to God, family and community and will be deeply missed.

Joyce is survived by five daughters, Nancy (Bart) Smith of Ankeny, Laura Kutscher of Ankeny, Lisa (Kevin) O'Hara Sr. of Burlington, Mary (Tim) Older of Fort Madison, and Jane (Drew) Denning of Ankeny; 12 grandchildren, Andy Smith, Ryan Smith, Tyler (Courtney) Smith, Mike (Carole Anne) Dankler, Nick (Maggie) Dankler, Genessa Meier, Gerod Meier, Kevin (Kelli) O'Hara Jr., Thomas (Amanda) Older, Tracy (Keegan) Dunn, Matt Denning, and Maggie (Darren) Holtkamp; 11 great-grandchildren and her beloved nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one granddaughter, Katie Denning, one brother, Joseph Temborius and one sister, Janice Clough.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited at 3 p.m. immediately followed at 3:30 p.m. with the rosary on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday evening at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Sacred Heart Church with Father Gary Beckman officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in Joyce's memory.

Online condolences to the Kutscher family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.