passed away on April 21, 2024 at Nye Legacy in Fremont.
Joyce Ann Cizek was born on April 16, 1937 to William and Alice (Chrudimsky) Cizek in their little farmhouse south of Belle Plaine, Iowa. Joyce attended the Chelsea Country School for grade school and graduated from Toledo High School in 1955. After high school, Joyce attended Mount Mercy College of nursing and graduated in 1958. After graduation, Joyce moved to Omaha to pursue her nursing career where she eventually worked for Dr. Sam Swenson. Dr. Swenson and his wife Barbara became like parents to Joyce and were grandparents to her children.
In 1965, Joyce met Merlin ''Mike'' Echtenkamp, and as they like to tell the story, he was looking for someone to go to the Nebraska football game with him and Joyce wasn't about to pass up a free ticket. Little did Joyce know, that first football game would turn into perfect attendance at Husker football for the next 30 years. Joyce and Mike married in 1966 and had three children, Pamela, Jeffrey, and Katherine. Mike passed away in 1996.
Joyce was a woman of strong faith and was active in her church. Joyce's pride and joy was her family and she cared for not just her own children, but also any friends who stopped by. Joyce was blessed with eight grandchildren whom she loved deeply. As a stay-at-home mother, Joyce faithfully attended her children's activities and was proud to drive carpool in her yellow station wagon.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Mike; her parents, William and Alice Cizek; Mike's parents, Martin and Neoma Echtenkamp, her brother James Cizek, her brother-in-law Charles Formanek, sister-in-law Geraldine Kinney and sister-and-brother-in-law Lila and Kay Stites.
Joyce is survived by her children Pamela (Devon) Liston of York, NE; Jeffrey (Francine) Echtenkamp of Coto de Caza, CA; and Katherine (Steve) Sitzmann of Ankeny Iowa; grandchildren Anna, Elizabeth, Sophia and William Liston; Stephanie and Stacy Echtenkamp; Calleigh and Luke Sitzmann; sister June Formanek; sister-in-law Jean Cizek, brother-in-law Dale Kinney and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be 10:30am, May 9th at Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church in Omaha (15005 Q St.). Luncheon to follow the service, then burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha. Visitation will be May 8th from 6pm to 8pm at Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church. Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Children's Home or The Wounded Warrior Project. Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont in charge of arrangements.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
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