Joyce Renken, 77, of Sioux City, Iowa, formerly of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2025, at MercyOne Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 14, 2025, at Christ Lutheran Church – Grant Township, rural Le Mars, Iowa. Vicar Grace Baumgartel will officiate. Burial will follow at Christ Lutheran Cemetery – Grant Township, rural Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. There will be a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. on Friday at the church. Arrangements are with the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial contributions can be made, in care of the family, to Christ Lutheran Church, and the St. Luke's Foundation to support the education of future nursing students.

Joyce Elaine Smith, the daughter of Elmer Raymond and Celia Lena (Breault) Smith, was born on August 18, 1947, in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. She grew up in Bronson, Iowa, where she attended the Bronson school. After her father's unexpected passing, she moved with her family to Sioux City, Iowa, and later to Akron, Iowa. She graduated from Akron High School in 1965. Joyce then attended St. Luke's School of Nursing in Sioux City and attained her nursing degree. She then began working as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Northwest Iowa.

Joyce was united in marriage to Virgil Renken on September 8, 1968, at Christ Lutheran Church – Grant Township. The couple made their home on the family farm in Grant Township. She enjoyed working as an RN, focusing on her family, working on the farm, and later helping care for others as a home health care nurse. After retirement Joyce stayed on the family farm, then in 2018 she moved to Sioux City.

She was a longtime member of Christ Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School for many years. Over the recent years she enjoyed reading, family game nights with her grandchildren, listening to music, and watching her favorite reality TV shows. She loved to decorate for all the holidays. Joyce's passion was caring for others, providing support and strength wherever it was needed. Through this she has inspired many others to follow in her footsteps and enter the field of nursing.

Joyce's deep faith helped her survive cancer allowing her to share messages of hope and strength with others facing the same. Her mantra of "This Too Shall Pass" serves as a guide for those she leaves behind.

Survivors include her two children: Troy (Kim) Renken of West Des Moines, IA, and Stephanie Renken of West Des Moines, IA; 3 grandchildren: Jonathan Miller, Shannon Renken, and Benjamin Renken; her siblings: Violet (Tom) Thomas of Sioux City, IA, Connie Kenny of Sioux City, IA, Larry (Patricia) Smith of Sioux City, IA, Carol (Larry) Brown of Lincoln, NE, and John (Cindy) Searls of Elk Point, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Renken; her parents Raymond Smith and Lena Searls; her stepfather, William Searls; her father and mother-in-law, Gareith and Etta Renken; and her sister, Delores Short.