Joyce Lengtat

Joyce Ann Lengtat, 81 of Cedar Rapids (formerly Fairfield), died on August 23, 2025. Visitation will be held at 5:00 – 7:30 PM on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A private burial will be held at Fellows Cemetery, in Keosauqua, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 PM on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, located at 2204 26th St. NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The service will be livestreamed via Zoom ID number 529 593 0853; no password.
She was born January 28, 1944, to Walter and Dolores Jaeckle. She married Lothar Lengtat on September 5, 1964. She is survived by her devoted husband; three daughters, Lydia (Mark) Barger of Cedar Rapids, Naomi (Carl) Zahari of New York, and Stephanie of Des Moines; grandchildren, Emily Barger, Jared Barger, and Kevin Stenstrom; one brother, John (Marcia) Jaeckle of New London, WI.
Joyce and her brother were raised by their widowed father on a farm near Sabula, Iowa. She attended country school through the fourth grade and graduated second in her class from Sabula High School. Joyce often laughed saying she wasn't the top of her class because she couldn't spell. This "skill" often led to some funny stories.
She learned to sew from her grandmother and neighbors. Having lost her mother before the age of two, Joyce's heart was deeply touched in her teen years to hear a Bible talk on the resurrection at a Kingdom Hall. A lifetime of Bible study began. The promise Jesus taught of dead loved ones being brought back to life on a Paradise earth became one of the foundations of her faith. Joyce was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesss on August 19, 1961, and found great joy in teaching others this Bible hope.
Besides being a supportive wife, Joyce was a loving mother, good friend, talented seamstress, masterful home decorator and creative poet. Her sewing talents and love of purple found their way into many aprons, quilts, and clothes for both family and friends. She loved flowers, African violets especially, all thriving under her care.
Joyce was known for her witty one-liners and would often burst into song a cappella. Her sense of humor helped her during many years of caregiving for her father and father-in-law.
Her grandchildren came later in life and affectionately knew her as "Oma." Oma enjoyed writing them letters, entertaining them with out-of-the-ordinary games and taking them for walks along with her dog, Zack. Joyce was good at living in the moment and accepting what life brought, ever cheerful and content.
The Lengtats lived in Fairfield nearly 50 years before relocating to Cedar Rapids to be near their oldest daughter, Lydia.
Joyce will be remembered for her love of people, rosy cheeks, and the little twinkle in her eye that lit up a room.
The family is grateful to each and every one of the Terrace Glen Village staff who lovingly provided exceptional care for over five years. Thank you also to St Croix Hospice.