Joyce Anne (Schmitt) Kalkbrenner

Joyce Anne Kalkbrenner (Schmitt), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and longtime resident of Waterloo, IA, died on October 24, 2025, at the age of 80 at Allen Hospital.

Joyce is survived by her siblings Jerry Schmitt, Donald (Nancy) Schmitt, Barb (Jim) Sebetka (Schmitt), Karen (Joe) Ciesielski (Schmitt), her sisters in law Donna Schmitt (Thomas), and Marlene Schmitt (James), her brother in law John Peverill (Janette), her maternal children, Scott Ciesielski, Rick Ciesielski (Dawn), Jodi Ridder (Mike), Vernon Kalkbrenner II (Samantha), her children in marriage, Karen Richmond (Darryl), Kim Peterson (Glenn), Kristine Kalkbrenner, Kathy Standridge (Pete), Sonja Hoskins (Dwayne), Steven Kalkbrenner (Andrea), Sue Cavallaro, her nearly countless grandchildren, and her growing number of great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Gertrude (Betty) Schmitt, her siblings Mike Schmitt (Cheryl), Janette Peverill (Schmitt), Thomas Schmitt, James Schmitt, Steven Schmitt (Linda), her sister in law Peggy Schmitt (Jerry), and the love of her life, her late husband Vernon Kalkbrenner.

Joyce was born in Merced, California on December 21, 1944, to Raymond and Gertude (Betty) Schmitt. She graduated from Don Bosco High School in 1963. On September 1, 1979, she was united in marriage with Vernon Kalkbrenner. Their union joined 10 shared children from previous marriages, Karen Richmond (Kalkbrenner), Kim Peterson (Kalkbrenner), Scott Ciesielski, Kristine Kalkbrenner, Rick Ciesielski, Kathy Standridge (Kalkbrenner), Jodi Ridder (Ciesielski) Sonja Hoskins (Kalkbrenner), Steven Kalkbrenner, and Sue Cavallaro (Kalkbrenner). On July 21, 1980, they welcomed their son, Vernon Kalkbrenner II, into the world. She retired from her Management Support position at Tyson Foods several years ago after a long career as a hardworking dedicated employee.

Joyce was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother by all standards. She adored her family above all else. You could always count on her to be there, as she loved simply being with ones closest to her. In recent years she was an avid football fan, particularly of the Pittsburgh Steelers. She played fantasy football with her husband for many years, and some of her grandchildren (Austin, Tyler, Mitch, Cameron, and Mason) later in life. Joyce was often found working in her backyard, tending to her trees, flowers, and coveted rhubarb.

She loved taking care of her family and friends through her extensive cooking and baking portfolio of recipes, including her iconic rhubarb pie. Joyce was a light of God, shining on all those she encountered. She could always find the positives in life, no matter the difficulty.

She always sought to make sure whatever she did was done correctly.

Through all the joy and adversity, she faced throughout her life, she was always able to smile and crack jokes until the very end. She will be deeply missed by all she graced with her presence.

Her memorial visitation is scheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, at Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories in Waterloo, with a memorial service at 11:00 am. Burial to follow at St. Athanasius Cemetery in Jesup.