Joyce Maxine Dow

August 21, 1927 - February 23, 2014

Joyce Maxine Dow, 86, Rockford, IA died on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at the Nora Springs Care Center. Online condolences may be left at www.fullertonfh.com. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, February 28, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, 21 3rd Street NW, Rockford, with a one hour prior visitation. Reverend Judy Wooton will be officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Rockford. A visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at Fullerton Schumburg Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to Rockford First United Methodist Church. Joyce Dow was born on August 21, 1927 to William and Bernice (Kivell) Milloy in Mason City, IA. She was the sixth of seven children. Joyce grew up on the Milloy farm west of Rockford. She enjoyed riding horses as a child and spent much of her time playing with her younger brother, Calvin. In 1944 she graduated from Rockford High School. On October 30, 1948 she was united in marriage to Lawrence Dow. To their union seven children were born. For most of their lives they resided on the Dow farm west of Rockford. Joyce led a very busy life raising her family and helping with farm work. Joyce loved gardening and reading. She was an avid newspaper reader, always keeping up with current events and politics. Throughout her life she was active in her church serving as chairperson and secretary of her circle and attending bible studies regularly. She considered her family to be her greatest achievement. She will leave behind memories of a gentle and caring person. Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Jane (Ken) Siefken of Buena Vista, CO, Ellyn (Doug) Beland of Durant, IA, Barbara (Gary) Veeder of Charles City, Patricia (Craig) Christopherson of West Side, Debra (Tommy) Chambers of Rockford, and Thomas Dow of Rockford; 11 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence, son John, parents William and Bernice Milloy, and siblings Irene Vorhes, Marian Graves, Hazel Wilson, Louise Moore, Jeanette Dyrcz, and Calvin Milloy. Fullerton Schumburg Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 302 West Main, Rockford, Iowa 50468 641-756-3311, www.Fullertonfh.com