Joyce M. Louden, age 90, of Stronghurst, Illinois, passed away Friday, May 24, 2019 at Great River Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa. She was born November 14, 1928 near Gladstone, Illinois, the daughter of Milton H. and Helen Bowen Stevenson. On September 4, 1945, she married Robert B. Louden in Burlington, Iowa. He preceded her in death on September 7, 2018.
Joyce attended Cork Country School and later, Terre Haute High School. She also attended Carl Sandburg Community College. Her main job in life was as wife, mother, and homemaker, raising their three children on the farm south of Terre Haute.
She had served as deputy sheriff and in 1970, she ran for the office of Sheriff of Henderson County. Also in 1970, she and her husband moved to Stronghurst and built their family home, where they resided for 49 years. She enjoyed entertaining family and friends at numerous fish fries. She and her husband enjoyed traveling and had visited all but two of the United States of America. For several years, they wintered in Arizona. She also enjoyed painting and was an avid Chicago Cub fan.
Joyce had served as president of the Henderson County Republican Women’s Committee, and was a member of the D.A.R., the Red Hat Ladies, and was a longtime member and Sunday School teacher at the Terre Haute United Methodist Church. She also attended the Stronghurst United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one son, Larry (Pat) Louden of Hot Springs, AR, five grandchildren, numerous great and great great grandchildren, and two sisters, Joan (Joe) Rusk of Leesburg, FL, and Sharon Farnon of Port St. Lucie, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Rodney Louden, one daughter, Laura Ball, one granddaughter, Bethany Neppl, three brothers, Jack Stevenson, Jim Stevenson and Joseph Stevenson (in infancy), two sisters, Jane Kern, and Judy Melvin Dowell, step mother, Mildred Stevenson, and one step brother, T.L. Henderson.
Friends may call as they desire from 2:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst. The funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday May 29, 2019 at Banks & Beals, with Pastor Lisa Unger officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Terre Haute Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the Terre Haute United Methodist Church and the Stronghurst United Methodist Church. Please visit banksandbeals.com to sign the guest book and leave a condolence.
