Joyce Aileen 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. She served as an elementary rural school teacher for 1 year. 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. A heavy snow the day before and temperatures at 12 below on their wedding day, did not curtail them. Larry's family traveled from Ottawa, KS, and Charley snow plowed the family's driveway several miles to get to the church.

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 returned to her nursing career part-time as the school nurse at Ottawa University. While there she also took courses at KU Med and 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 Wassmer's Men's Wear store at the Wardrobe. Joyce continued nursing part-time at LakeMary Center as Coordinator of Health Services and retired after 23 years. While at LakeMary, she coordinated a dental hygienist student program along with local dentists. It was important to Joyce to serve as a nurse only part-time, which allowed her to make her family her first priority.

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.

Although her primary focus was her children and grandchildren, 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.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Paola chapel.

Rosary will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral mass to follow beginning at 10:30 a.m. both at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Burial will take place after the services at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Ottawa, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Trinity Catholic Church or the LakeMary Center c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary-Paola Chapel 305 N. Pearl St. Paola, KS 66071.

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