Joyce Nellie Kindschuh of rural Brownsville died peacefully March 29, 2026, in the home she lived in for the past 71 years.
She was born April 16, 1930, at home on the family farm in the Township of Leon, Waushara County, to Helmuth and Clara (Blaise) Tornow. Following graduation from Berlin High School in 1948, Joyce attended Oshkosh Business College, where she graduated with a secretarial degree. Her first job was as a secretary at Rockwood Sprinkler Company in Oshkosh. Then she was employed at Marathon Corporation, Menasha, as a sales service assistant. She and one other lady were the first women to hold this position which was formerly only held by men. Joyce was employed there for five years until her marriage on February 19, 1955, to Calvin Kindschuh at the Methodist Church in Poy Sippi.
She served as a 4-H foods leader with the South Byron 4-H Club for a number of years. She was superintendent of the foods department at the Fond du Lac County Fair for 22 years. She was active with the Oakfield School Music Association when her children were in school and served as treasurer. She served on the building committee for the Belle Reynolds School and Oakfield High School. She served as treasurer on the school board of the former Camp Ground School.
She was very active in the Oakfield United Methodist Church, until she became a member of Covenant United Methodist Church. While a church member in Oakfield, she served on the building committee, was a council secretary and also chairperson of the council for a number of years. She was a member of the ladies fellowship and was president. She headed the dessert department for all of the church dinners for 40 years. Desserts were her specialty especially hickory nut pie, hickory nut cake, lazy daisy cake, poppy seed torte and poppy seed cake. She was an active member of Byron Historical Society and the former South Byron Grange. A short time ago, she was presented with the Town of Byron Citizen of the Year award for 2026. She loved to dance and play sheepshead, dominoes, Rook and Phase 10.
She worked on the family farm when her husband was alive. She was a demonstrator for Johnsonville Foods for 14 years. She was a caregiver for Dorothy McLean for seven years. She loved nature and walking at the former Byron Center. She loved working outside in her vegetable and flower gardens, especially her roses. She faithfully attended many of her children’s activities which included football, basketball, wrestling, band and choral concerts. She loved her family; they were all special to her.
She loved to travel and had been to all 50 states. After the untimely death of her husband in 1979, she met Harvey Mincy in 1980. Joyce and Harvey had the opportunity to visit throughout the world. She traveled to Europe five times, United Kingdom, Egypt, Mexico, Guatemala, Jordan, Israel, Greece, St. Petersburg, Scandinavia, Fiji, Australia, Germany, Italy and New Zealand.
Joyce is survived by her children, Jeffery (Kris) of Oklahoma City, Patti Stuebs (Jeff) of rural Campbellsport, Curt (Shelly) of Brownsville and Steven (Donna) of Visalia, CA; her grandchildren include Rob Jeffries of Austin, TX, Vickie Jeffries of Raleigh, NC, Eric Cobb of Bradenton, FL, Stacie (Joseph) Gruenwald of North Fond du Lac, Kelsey Cobb of Anchorage, AK, James and Samantha Kindschuh of Visalia, CA; her great-grandchildren, Joe Romero, Alex, Lexi and Aidan Cobb and Penelope Gruenwald. She is also survived by her step-grandchildren, Zack, Jake and Rachel Stuebs and Alexis (Blake) Champeau; and a step-great-grandson, Charlie Champeau. Other survivors include Harvey Mincy’s children, Wendell Mincy, Merrilyn (Daniel) DiVenanzo, Mark Mincy and Michael (Seana) Mincy and Harvey’s four grandchildren, Muriel and Andrew (Katie) DiVenanzo, Kilah and Brendan Mincy and two great-grandchildren, Vera and Jacob. She is also survived by her sister, Alene Mueckler.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin Kindschuh on September 5, 1979; and by her parents; and her special friend, Harvey Mincy, on November 9, 2017.
Visitation for Joyce will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, at Covenant United Methodist Church, 20 North Marr Street, Fond du Lac. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m., with lunch to follow.
Joyce asks that you wear bright colors to celebrate her life.
Cremation has taken place; inurnment will be at Ledgeview Cemetery.
The family would like to thank SSM Home Hospice and Visiting Angels for the care they provided her over the past six weeks.
Memorials may be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Kurki Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family, on-line guestbook can be found at www.kurkifuneralchapel.com. 920-921-4420
