JOYCE WASSMER
Joyce Aileen Wassmer, of Paola, KS, joined her Lord & Savior the morning of October 7, 2025, just before the sunrise.
She was born on January 20, 1933, to Charles and Lola Mansfield in Culbertson, NE, the oldest of three daughters. She was raised on the family wheat farm, attended rural schools then high school at Trenton, NE, graduating in 1950. Joyce graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Denver in 1954 at the top of her class.
She nursed at St. Catherine’s Hospital, McCook, NE, and later in the Neo-Natal Unit at Children’s Hospital in Denver, CO.
Joyce and Larry were united in marriage on November 16, 1955 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in McCook, NE.
Joyce and Larry made their home in Ottawa, KS, where they became the parents of 5 children, Paul, Kathy, Mark, David, and Mary.
After years of being a homemaker, Joyce worked as the school nurse at Ottawa University. While there, she became a nurse clinician, the first of its kind in Kansas, in 1973. That same year the Wassmer’s moved to Paola, KS, where Larry opened the Wassmer’s Men’s Wear store at the Wardrobe. Joyce continued nursing part time at the LakeMary Center as Coordinator of Health Services and retired after 23 years.
She was a member at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Altar Society, Shamrock Study Club, a hospice volunteer, Crisis Pregnancy Center, Board Member of MICO Auxiliary and scholarship Chair Person, Senior Center Board as well as being VERY active in the local Republican Party and Pro-life movement.
Joyce also enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, (many know of her book collection), Bible Studies, prayer groups, Marriage Encounter along with Larry, attending as many activities as they could of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, which continued until less than a week before she passed.
Joyce is survived by sisters, Shirley (Bruce) Confer, of Oklahoma City, OK, and Anita Hibberd, of Grand Junction, CO; children, Paul (Rebecca), Kathy Healey, Mark (Spica), daughter-in-law, Cyndi, Mary (Mark) Kettler; as well as 17 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, dear husband Larry, beloved son David, grandson Joshua, and brothers-in-law, Glen Hibberd, John Wassmer and his wife Suzanne.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Trinity Catholic Church or to the LakeMary Center c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary-Paola Chapel 305 N. Pearl St. Paola, KS 66071.
