Joyce G. LaFleur

Joyce Gertrude (Schrauben) LaFleur, age 86, passed away peacefully in her assisted living apartment at The Brook of Portland, on August 10, 2025, surrounded by the love of family. Joyce was born on October 17, 1938, at home in Fowler, Michigan, the oldest child of Isadore and Esther (Feldpausch) Schrauben. Soon after her birth, the family moved to Portland to the farm on Grand River Ave, best known for the New Era silo.

Joyce grew up in Portland and started her schooling in a one-room school house until 4th grade, when she transitioned to St. Patrick School, where she graduated with the Class of 1957. She was always very serious about her studies and was a voracious reader - loving to tell how she kept the librarian on her toes, reading the books as quickly as they arrived. Joyce kept in contact with several of her classmates and they enjoyed going to lunch together, sharing stories of their families and their joys, and supporting each other through difficult times.

Joyce had a strong work ethic, and started working by babysitting for families around town on a daily basis while she was still in school, working around her school schedule (while maintaining her excellent grades) - she was a nanny, before nannies were a "thing". After graduating from St. Pat's, Joyce left the small town of Portland for the big city of Lansing. Joyce started working at Michigan State University as a Clerk, where she worked from 1957-1968. She also put herself through cosmetology school during that time. While she did not work as a cosmetologist, she was known to cut hair for family and friends (back when razor cuts were a thing - and boy did they pull / hurt!). Joyce took 10 years off of working outside of the home to care for her family, which she did with great passion! During that time, she also provided day care for other children in her home. Joyce made amazing home cooked meals and the family sat down for meals together every night; she was a tremendous baker; she canned fruits/vegetables from the garden; sewed clothes for her girls and herself; assisted with homework; was the supreme taxi service; etc. - all of which she continued even after she returned to work in 1978, when she went to work for the State of Michigan. She worked in several different departments for the State, but ultimately, landed as an Auditor in the Income Tax division, until her retirement in 1992. While working full-time and raising a family, Joyce went back to school and received her Bachelor's Degree from Northwood Institute; and her Master's Degree in Accounting from Western Michigan University. Joyce also worked during the tax season as a tax preparer for H & R Block; and she taught math/accounting/finance at Lansing Community College. After retiring from the State of Michigan, she returned to help them as a contract auditor; and ultimately she joined the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program where she served for 16 years simultaneously as District Coordinator, lead instructor for the district and the Local Coordinator for the Greater Lansing area. For this selfless volunteer work, she was awarded the prestigious AARP Andrus Award for Community Service in 2008. Her final "retirement" occurred in 2016, but she continued to do income taxes for family and friends until 2024.

Joyce met Joseph LaFleur, at a bowling alley in May of 1963, and they married on January 4, 1964, eventually moving to East Lansing. They had 3 daughters, Janean, Janette and Janell. The family enjoyed many camping trips, especially up north, to Petoskey. Joyce also enjoyed gardening, having participated in the Master Gardener class at MSU; she was a very competitive Bridge player; she enjoyed knitting - and presented others with fisherman-knit afghans, sweaters, baby afghans; and she knitted hats for homeless shelters and the needy; she also enjoyed quilting, embroidery and sewing. Joyce enjoyed traveling the world and also investing and playing the stock market. Her favorite thing was to spend time with her children and grandchildren - taking them on vacations, baking cookies with them, attending their sporting events and activities, including graduations, weddings, showers, etc. Joyce was very selfless and giving, and that was never more apparent than by observing the care she provided to Joe as his health started to fail, even when her own health was compromised.

Joyce is survived by her 3 daughters, Janean Karpus (Mark) of Mattoon, Illinois and their children, Anthony, Benjamin and Andrew; Janette Guile (Kevin) of Fenton, Michigan and their children, Megan and Victoria; and Janell Henderson of Nampa, Idaho and her children, Shelby (Joe) Coltson and their children Theodore, Oliver and Benjamin; Frank Henderson; Lydia (Curtis) Garner and Kylie Henderson. She is also survived by her siblings (who provided her the nicknames: Gert and Jonsey): her sister, Karen Wirth (Ken) and brothers: Gene (Donna); Gary; Marvin; Charlie (Kathy); Al (Karla); sister-in-law Ann Hallenbeck and brother-in-law Bob Lezovich; as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe on November 27, 2023; her parents; infant brother, Roy; sisters-in-law Nancy Schrauben, Pat Lezovich, Elizabeth "Betty" McCastle; and brothers-in-law Bill Hallenbeck and Harold McCastle.

Per Joyce's wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral. There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. at The Wagon Wheel, Portland, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: U-M Sparrow Hospice (1210 W. Saginaw, Lansing, MI 48915) The Soup Project (P.O. Box 282, Portland, MI 48875) or the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.