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JOYCE GIESBRECHT

JOYCE GIESBRECHT (nee PRYSTUPA) 1934 - 2012 Joyce passed away at the Health Sciences Centre on June 14, 2012 at the age of 77. Her strong sense of family, warm smile and jovial personality will be sadly missed by her loving family Ken, Sharon, Josh, Audrey, Raymond as well as many extended family and friends. Joyce was born to Michaelena (Minnie) and Joseph Prystupa on the family farm in Lorenzo Saskatchewan on October 14, 1934. She was the third oldest child in a family of eleven. In 1948, Joe and Minnie moved their family to a new homestead farm at Woodlands, MB. During her youth Joyce spent many hours working on the family farm and at the young age of 14 became a school bus driver. In these early years the school bus was really a horse and wagon or horse and sleigh. Over the years her school bus driving expertise transitioned to driving the school panel truck. In this period she completed her elementary education and enjoyed participating in various sports activities including horseback riding/jumping over the railway fences and tracks (much to the dismay of her parents). After completing her education, Joyce accepted a position with Silverwood Dairies in Winnipeg. This job allowed her to work and live in Winnipeg and return to help support the family farm on the weekend. One weekend trip in the fall of 1954 between Winnipeg and Woodlands, Joyce met a man in uniform, a bus driver named Eugene. On October 29, 1955, Eugene and Joyce were married. They resided in Winnipeg where Joyce worked for the T. Eaton Company. In the spring of 1960 they purchased and moved to the Wakeham farm to assist Eugene's parents who were in ill health. In 1968 Joyce and Eugene began a dairy operation. In the spring of 1990 a decision was made to sell the dairy cows and continue farming with grain and beef. They farmed until the passing of Eugene in 2009 at which time Joyce relocated to Winnipeg. Joyce sincerely enjoyed cooking, gardening and spending time with family. She was predeceased by Eugene in 2009, her parents, one sister Jean, and one brother Peter. Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd. in Winnipeg. After the funeral mass, all are invited to a reception in the Parish Hall. At 6:00 p.m. an ash interment will follow at Chapel Cemetery in Morden, MB. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joyce's memory to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation 1160-675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. A heartfelt thank you goes to the Hoeppner families, Edward Elias and cousin Lawrence for their acts of kindness at the family farm. Wiebe Funeral Chapel, Morden In care of arrangements, 822-4755 wiebefuneralhomes.com

As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on June 16, 2012