Joyce M. Almquist, 94, of Grand Island, formerly of rural Axtell, passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at Bethany Lutheran Church, south of Axtell, with Rev. Marcia Dorn officiating. The service will be streamed to the funeral home's Facebook page. Interment will be held following the service at Bethany Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at Craig Funeral Home in Minden. Memorials in Joyce's honor are kindly suggested to Bethany Lutheran Church in Axtell or to AseraCare Hospice in Grand Island. Arrangements are under the care of Craig Funeral Home in Minden.

Joyce Marie (White) Almquist was born on February 4, 1930 in Harlan County, NE to Oliver H. and Gladys L. (Russell) White. She grew up in the Orleans and Stamford area.

She was united in marriage to Dean LeRoy Almquist on February 4, 1947 in Phillipsburg, KS and to this union four children were born: Kenneth LeRoy, Margie Lee, Robert Dean and Russell Edward. The family made their home on a farm north of Wilcox, where Joyce lived until moving to Grand Island in 2014. Joyce worked for Christian Homes in Holdrege for 27 years.

Joyce was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege before transferring to Bethany Lutheran Church in Axtell. She enjoyed participating in Women's Circle, Democratic Women, card clubs, Spice Club, and took computer class to learn email. After her children got through college, she took classes and earned her GED.

Joyce and Dean enjoyed traveling the United States on bus trips. Their special joy was spending time with their grandchildren and attending their school programs and sporting events. In later years, she traveled with her daughter, Margie, to Europe three times, including the British Isles with Rex and granddaughter Sarah. She also enjoyed a trip with Margie and Rex to Jamaica and a Caribbean Cruise. Wherever she traveled, she made new friends. Her friendliness and sense of humor continued even to her time in the nursing home.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Ken Almquist and his wife, Linda, of Lincoln, Robert and his wife, Marcia, of Wood River, and Russell and his wife, Sharon, of Forsyth, MO; daughter, Margie Schwaninger of Bettendorf, IA; grandchildren, Rich Schwaninger, Stacie Sich, Kerry Bumgardner, Amy Uridil, Cory Almquist, Marcie Rutt, Casey Almquist, Ryan Almquist, Sarah Roberts, Isaac Almquist, and Mindi Jasper; great-grandchildren, Hunter Pollock, Max Jasper, Rhiannon, Peyton, Hayden and Hudson Sich, Easton, Emmalynn, Paxton, and Colton Bumgardner, Creighton, Jack and Loren Uridil, Cooper, Karsyn and Knox Almquist, IslaKay Ruger, BentLee Rutt, Aiden and Wyatt Almquist, Clara, Hannah, Calvin and Eliza Almquist, Mara Joy and Leah Grace Roberts, and Hazel and Evelyn Almquist; as well as a host of extended relatives and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Almquist, parents, brothers, Don and Chet White, sisters, Pearl Bantam and Elma Christensen and their spouses, grandson, Kris Almquist; and her favorite son-in-law, Rex Schwaninger.

Tributes and memories can be shared with the family at www.craigfunerals.com