Joan Boyer (Madden)

Joan Lorraine Madden Boyer, age 90, passed away Friday, October 13, 2017, in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, October 19, 2017, at Lutheran Church of Hope – Ankeny, with burial to follow at Armstrong Grove Cemetery in Armstrong, Iowa. Visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at Ankeny Funeral Home, and 9am and up until service time on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at the church.

Joan was born at home in Fenton, IA, the second of two children to Alma and Joseph Madden. She was raised on the family farm and attended country school where she received her education in the Seneca School District. Following graduation in 1946, Joan enrolled at AIB in Des Moines. Upon graduation from AIB, Joan worked as a secretary for Look Magazine and lived with her Aunt. While living at her Aunt's boarding house, she met her husband, Howard "Doug" Eugene Boyer, who also happened to be living there.

Joan and Howard began dating and were united in marriage on December 30, 1952, at Joan's family home in Fenton. The couple started their marriage in Des Moines before building two homes in Waukee (where they lived for a total of over 30 years). After Howard's retirement the couple built homes in Humboldt, Iowa and Okeechobee, Florida where they enjoyed their retirement. They also lived in Ankeny, Iowa together up until Howard's death in 2005. Joan then moved to Crest Hill, IL, Bondurant, IA, Waukee, IA (a third time), and to Winona Lake, IN, where she resided until her death.

Joan was a faithful servant of the Lord, had a gentle loving spirit, and was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Joan took many wonderful vacations with her family to Europe, The Caribbean, The Holy Land and almost every state in the United States. She also taught herself to play the piano by ear, was active in her church, hosted many family gatherings and was known for her apple pie, chocolate chip cookies and making fresh squeezed orange juice for her family. Her family and friends have many fond memories of her and Doug.

Joan will be deeply missed by her children, Rebecca J. Meyer and her husband, John Meyer, of Warsaw, IN and David H. Boyer and his wife, Lynette "Lyn" Boyer of Ankeny, IA ; grandchildren, John J. Meyer and his wife, Hien, Jason Meyer and his wife, Sarah, Jacob Meyer, Jeffrey Boyer and his wife, Sarah, and Julie Boyer Francisco and her husband, Tanner Francisco; and 8 great-grandchildren, Jonah Meyer, Annie Meyer, Jarrett Meyer, Kendall Meyer, Hayden Boyer, Lincoln Boyer, Parker Francisco, and Aurora Francisco; brother-in-law, Ronald Boyer; close friends, Don and Ella Dirksen and Debra West as well as other extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard "Doug" Boyer in 2005; her parents, Joseph and Alma Madden; and her sister, Lavon Madden Mallory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for donations to Lutheran Church of Hope – Ankeny, First Federated Church Missions, or the Billy Graham Foundation.