Joyce Kienitz

Joyce A. Kienitz age 92, of Raymond, passed away Monday morning September 6, at Bethesda Therapy Suites in Willmar.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 11, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Raymond.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Raymond.  Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Friday September 10, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will  continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Joyce Arlene Kienitz was born August 10, 1929, to Edward and Florence (Peterson) Voorhees at the family farm near Grand Meadow, Minnesota.   She graduated from Elkton High School in 1947 and then from Winona State Teachers College.  She taught at Fairfax (1 year),  St Louis Park (3 years),  Lewistown, Montana (1 year),  Granite Falls (2 years), Mankato (1 year), Montevideo (3 years),  and Osseo (2 years).   While teaching in Montevideo, she met the love of her life, Elmer Kienitz at the Fiesta Ball Room in Montevideo!  They swept each other off their feet and were married on August 5, 1962, in Grand Meadow.   They lived on the farm North of Raymond for 37 years where they raised their two sons, Wendell and Kraig.  Joyce resumed her teaching career in 1969 at Raymond Schools until her retirement in 1994.  In 1999, they moved into Raymond.  She loved going to watch the sporting events of her boys and her grandchildren.  She also loved all her farm cats that she cared for.  Joyce was an American Legion Auxiliary member for 59 years and member of St. Johns Lutheran Church, where she served on church council, as a  Sunday school teacher and on the ladies aid.

She is survived by her husband Elmer, her two sons, Wendell (and Kelli) Kienitz and Kraig (and Jeanette) Kienitz, all of Raymond; seven grandchildren, Trisha (and Jacob) Demarais, Katie (and Michael) Hanna, Brady Kienitz, Ella Kienitz, Kier Kienholz, Kendra (and Sam)Peterson and Karissa (and Nathan) Stenzel; and one great grandson, Grayson Hanna, besides many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Keith Voorhees and her sister, Floris Holderness and all of her brother and sister in laws.