Joyce M. Harrop

Preceded in death by Parents Virgil & Ora Lansberry, Brother James Lansberry

Survived by Husband Steve

Daughters & son-in-law: Deb & Steve Rowoldt, Lincoln, NE; Diana Harrop, Bellevue, NE

Son: Jeffery Harrop, Washington D.C.

Grandchild Andrew Rowoldt

Sister-in-law Doris Lansberry, Twin Falls, ID

Visitation: thurs 1-8 PM with the family receiving friends from 6-8 PM all at the Kahler-Dolce Mortuary, Papillion, NE

Service Fri. 11:00 AM at the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church, 12009 S. 84th Street, Papillion, NE

Private Inurnment

Memorials to Muscular Distrophy Foundation

LIFE SKETCH OF JOYCE MAE LANSBERRY HARROP

WRITTEN AND READ BY DEBRA HARROP ROWOLDT

MAY 27, 2011

Joyce Mae Lansberry was born October 12, 1936 in San Francisco, California to Virgil & Ora Lansberry. Her brother Jim was 6 years old at the time of her birth. Her father Vic was in the newspaper business and she grew up around the printing presses. She was a baby model at age 3 at the 1939 San Francisco World’s Fair. In 1944 when Joyce was 8 years old, the family bought the Teton Valley News and moved to Driggs, Idaho. She played with Steve’s two younger sisters, LaRae and Sally, and told stories of him teasing and tormenting them. Joyce loved school and was involved in many activities. She played the clarinet in the band and played catcher on the softball team. She also played the organ for Junior Sunday School. Steve’s older sister Edie was her High School English teacher and still says that Joyce was one of her “star pupils.”

She attended her freshman year of college at Idaho State University in Pocatello and played the clarinet in the marching band. The night that Steve proposed to her, she was more interested in eating her dinner first before listening to his proposal. Steve and Joyce were married on September 16, 1955 in Driggs and moved to Moscow, Idaho where Steve attended the University of Idaho. They have been married for 55 years.

They began their Air Force career in October of 1956 in Harlingen, Texas where Steve attended Navigator School. Debra Kay was born there one year later. Diana Joyce was born 22 months later in Savannah, Georgia. Jeffery Steve was born 3 years later in Oscoda, Michigan during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Steve was on Alert at the time and had to bring his 6 man B-52 crew to the hospital with him to see Jeff after he was born. Joyce enjoyed being an Air Force wife and providing services such as volunteering as a gray lady in the hospital and later as a base commander’s wife. She loved meeting people everywhere she lived. Many of her Air Force friends were like family to her and a lot of you are here today. While stationed in California, she enjoyed water skiing and snow skiing and ran a very tight ship while Steve was gone for 4 months at a time overseas.

At the age of 40 she was proud that she completed her college degree. She earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from the University of Nebraska Omaha and began teaching in Bellevue, Nebraska. She shared many amusing stories and enjoyed teaching at the 5th grade level. She also learned to play tennis that year which she enjoyed playing and watching for many years to come.

She was an expert seamstress and took up quilting which became a true passion of hers as evidenced by the quilts displayed on the walls in their home. She was President of the 400 member Omaha Quilt Guild. She was active in the Bellevue/Offutt Music Circle. She was on the Board of Ute Halle Girls Village. She played the piano and organ for many church and social activities. She was active in the church and served in capacities which included Relief Society, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and Primary leader.

She loved attending her grandson Andrew’s sports and school activities. Especially his tennis tournaments and high school tennis meets. She credited herself with introducing Andrew to tennis and “starting” his tennis career.

She enjoyed having family holidays and dinners at her house which many times included extended Air Force family friends. She was exuberant about life and was a sublime wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

She left this earthly world and joined her Father in Heaven with the loving arms of her entire family surrounding her at 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at the age of 74.

I am proud to call her my mother and my friend.Good Morning. I’m Diana Harrop, Steve & Joyce’s daughter. I asked my Dad if I could speak at the service today because this is something I really wanted to do, but this is hard, so please bear with me.

I came across a poem that epitomizes what a mother is. It is called Forever My Mother.

FOREVER MY MOTHER by Shelly Middleton

Beauty and Grace,

through her expressions of faith.

Comfort and tears,

she helps calm my fears.

Love and Life,

she's always my guide.

There'll never be another,

she's forever my Mother.

My Mom loved and cherished her children with all her heart. When we were growing up she inspired Deb, Jeff and me with her strength, courage, independence and vivacious personality. Her love of bright colors inspired me to wear this scarf today. I wear it proudly in honor of her memory.

In the last few years, she struggled immensely with her Alzheimer’s and Muscular Dystrophy, but she never failed to tell us each time we spoke or saw her how much she loved and appreciated us.

I want to let you all know that we could not have asked for a more loving mother. Deb, Jeff and I are so proud, so honored and so thankful that she was our Mother.

Mom, we will always hold you in our hearts forever. We love you very much.

TRIBUTE TO GRANDMA HARROP

WRITTEN AND READ BY ANDREW HARROP ROWOLDT

MAY 27, 2011

Elegance, class, beauty, quilting, love and family: These words all remind me of my grandmother.

If spoiling your grandchild were an art, then she would be Picasso.

- Being her only grandchild, I had a special roll in my grandmother’s life. She loved me more than words can describe: a feeling that was mutual.

- I’ll never forget the days when she would take me out to lunch with her group of lady friends, and teach me how to act as a gentleman at the early age of three, the days spent at the zoo and on vacations, for always putting Grandpa in line when he would get too rough boxing me around (which was all in good fun of course).

I would have to say that my grandmother’s biggest claim to fame was the fact that she introduced me to the game of tennis. Which in fact, she did.

- She loved watching and playing tennis, and was eager to get me involved in it. She always knew I would be good at it even when I didn’t think so. As it turns out, just like she always said “Grandma’s really do know best” since I ended up having a bright tennis career all the way through my first couple of years of college, and I am able to pass along teaching tennis to young kids. It all stemmed from my Grandmother’s idea.

- She was always my biggest fan on the sidelines and was the first to tell me how good I played (even if I didn’t) and always thought I was great. I was able to win my first tournament for her.

It wasn’t just the times that I had with her, or the way she spoiled me rotten, that made her so special to me. It was the way that she made me feel. Every time I was with her, I felt special, loved, and more importantly, I felt as if I could do nothing wrong. She had the ability to always make you smile, regardless of the mood you were in. So personable and so caring, she would do anything to bring joy to your life. I am sure many, if not all of you in this room would agree.

Her smile continues to amaze me to this day. Each time you entered her house or she came to visit you, my grandmother would always be grinning with a smile from ear to ear, as she eagerly waited to give you the biggest hug possible. Her smile made you feel special, warm and like nothing else in the world mattered at that point in time.

It didn’t matter if you were her family, her friend or an acquaintance, she always had an abundance of love to give, which was extremely apparent if you spent even just a minute of your time with her. Everyone was family to her. Growing up I felt as if all of her close friends like the Batchelders, Bainbridges, Purdums, Winks, Hains, Godbys, Fritzes and many of you in this room were all my extended family and they truly treated me that way. Even though they probably got tired of hearing about me since she talked about me all of the time. She knew how to keep great people in her life and how to bring unity with everyone.

Many can’t say this, but my Grandmother had style. The bright colored blouses, shirts, jewelry and lipstick she wore, reflected her personality: exciting, tasteful and unique.

She loved her husband, children, grandchild and friends more than I thought was humanly possible. I am extremely fortunate to have such a positive, wonderful and loving personal present for my entire life up to this point, and I am even more fortunate to call her my Grandmother.

The word Rejoice is defined: to be glad, happy, or delighted: be full of joy. Which is almost too perfect, because when I read that definition, the first thing that comes to mind is the thought of my grandmother whose name just happens to be JOYCE – which makes up exactly 5/7 of the word rejoice.

I have learned so much from the life of my grandmother: how to be a gentleman, how to treat people, how to love the people that are important, and more importantly that it is not what you do for a person, or what you can give them materially, but it is how you make them feel is what lasts forever.

She was many things to many people: a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, roll model, teacher and a positive reminder that a little love can go a long way. Unfortunately, it was time for her to go, but the suffering has ceased and she is now in the heavens looking upon us with her special smile and all of that love to fill your heart.

And although I won’t hear her famous laugh with “Oh Andrew” immediately following it, nor will I be able to wipe her bright lipstick off of my cheek, I will always have her teachings and love to fill that spot in my heart for ever. To my Grandfather, Colonel Harrop, my mother Deb, Aunt Diana, Uncle Jeff, my Father Steve and everyone else here today, it is difficult to ease the pain, but One thing is for sure, I will REJOICE every time I think of her, and the influence she has had on my life thus far.

In one of my favorite songs, Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve, says “It’s a bitter sweet symphony. That’s life.” I will live my life attempting to be loving in every way possible, trying to be a gentleman in every way because that’s what she would have wanted, to love the important people in my life as she did, and last, but not least, to make people feel the way she did. I hope to be to my grandchildren, a fraction of what my grandparents have been to me. I have the best grandparents in the world. At the end of another’s life you truly realize how every day is a blessing.

God bless you and Keep you Grandma

Amen

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