Joyce enjoyed a long, wonderful life, with many ups and downs. She started her schooling in Exira, Iowa. During the spring of her sixth grade year, she and her family moved to Harlan, Iowa, where she finished school and graduated in 1959, being the first person on the maternal side of her family to do so. After that, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska to work. She then moved to California in July of 1959 to live with her uncle and aunt, Gene and Betty Closson and her cousin Beverly. In January of 1960, she moved back to Omaha, Nebraska.
On November 12, 1960, she was united in marriage to Michael Charles Kimmen of Earling, Iowa at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. From this union they had four children, Michael Charles Kimmen Jr.; Patrick Lawrence Kimmen, John Jay Kimmen; and Nancy Michelle Kimmen. Their marriage ended in February of 1990.
In October of 1990, she decided to make a new life for herself and moved to Branson, Missouri, fulfilling a dream she had for many years to live and work there. She was employed by the State of Missouri for fourteen years and retired from The Department of Probation and Parole. She also worked part time for thirteen years at Silver Dollar City near Branson, in their marketing department. She was an expert on Branson, and in her job at Silver Dollar City, she assisted many travelers plan vacations in Branson.
She also enjoyed volunteer work, especially the Branson Veterans Task Force. She also participated in “The Best Is Yet to Come Choir” in Branson, who performed monthly shows at many events. In 2003, she retired and moved back to Lincoln, Nebraska to be near her family.
She is survived by her sons, Michael and John Kimmen of Lincoln, Nebraska and Patrick Kimmen of Milford, Nebraska; sisters, Johny Blunt of Longwood, Florida and Eileen Gruenwaldt of Council Bluffs, Iowa; brother, Rodney McClain of Council Bluffs, Iowa; grandchildren, Ashley Jacobsen of Beatrice, Nebraska, Katlyn Uhing of Louisville, Nebraska and lan Kimmen of Hickman, Nebraska; son in law, Todd Bouton of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Nancy Michelle (Kimmen) Bouton and her sister, Beatrice Mary (McClain) Meloccaro; daughters in law, Teresa Lynn (Wilbur) Kimmen and Brenda Sue (Simmons) Kimmen; and granddaughter,
Sarah Anne Anthes.
There will be a memorial service on December 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., Roper and Sons Funeral Home, 4300 “O” Street, Lincoln, Nebraska (402-476-1225)