Obituary announcement

Dateline: New Vienna

Joy v. (Westermeyer) Schaetzle, 86, of New Vienna, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at 10:30 a.m., at Winslow House in Marion, Iowa, after a long and fulfilling life.

Friends and relatives of Joy may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 21, 2012 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa, where a wake service will be held at 5:00 p.m.

Services for Joy will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 22, 2012 at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa, with Rev. Dennis Quint officiating. Burial will be held in St. Francis Cemetery in Dyersville, Iowa.

Joy was born May 1, 1926 in Dyersville, Iowa, daughter of Charles and Sedelle Westermeyer. On July 2, 1955 she married the love of her life, Louis A. Schaetzle. The couple raised their 4 children in the Dyersville/New Vienna area. Louis preceded her in death in 2000.

Joy was a firecracker from the day she was born. She lived her life with her own unique style and larger than life personality. In addition to being a devoted wife and dedicated mother, Joy was also a very creative artist. She loved meeting people who would drive by her home on Hwy 136 in New Vienna and stop by to see her beautiful brick driveway and rock gardens, only to be taken inside Joy’s home for the grand tour of her delightful folk art creations. They were strangers no longer for many became lifelong friends.

She is survived by four children, Kurt (Yolima) Schaetzle of Marion, IA, Kimberly (Kim) Miller of Eden Prairie, MN, Keith Schaetzle of LaCrosse, WI, and Ken Schaetzle of Springfield, VA; three loving sisters, Mary Lou Klein of Cedar Rapids, IA, Beverly (Raymond) Green of Springfield, IL, and Sandra (Bob) Faltermeier of Overland Park, KS; three sisters-in-law, Beverly Westermeyer and Mary Westermeyer both of Dyersville, IA and Mary Breitbach of Dubuque, IA; one broth-in-law, Robert Lukan of Scottsdale, AZ.

She is also preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Carmen Chapman and June Lukan; three brothers, Carlos Westermeyer, Carlton Westermeyer, and Gary Westermeyer; and two brothers-in-law, Gilbert Klein and Gerald Chapman.

Joy is beloved by family and friends and her fun Westermeyer spirit will live on in the hearts of those who knew her. Joy will be forever treasured and missed.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com