Joyce Colleen Bowers Obituary in Ankeny at Memorial Services of Iowa

Obituary For Joyce Colleen Bowers

Joyce Colleen Bowers, 86, gained her angel wings surrounded by family on May 5, 2026.

A visitation will be held from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Christ Community Church (5501 George Washington Carver, Ames, IA), with a memorial service following from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., also at the church.

Joyce was born July 1, 1939, in Ames, Iowa to Roy and Louise Bell. Joyce and her twin sister Joan were the talk of the town as they were the first twins born in the neighborhood. Joyce graduated from Ames High School where she met her husband, Dale Bowers. The two were married on March 30, 1957, and were blessed with four children and numerous grandchildren.

Joyce worked several jobs until she found the one she loved, working for 40 years for the Ames School District Food Service. She absolutely loved her job and getting to know the kids, who years later still remembered her. Her passions were cooking, plants, and the Iowa State Cyclones.

Joyce’s true joy and happiness were her family, especially her grandchildren. She was the person they went to and knew that they would be fed, loved unconditionally, and always had a home. She would move mountains if she could as her children and grandchildren were her world. She never missed a game, a school program, or anything else for her grandchildren or her sons-in-law. She especially loved watching them play ball. She would sit and cheer them on with her little chair, sunglasses, diet coke, and Jujubes.

You could always find Joyce watching her soaps, especially The Young and the Restless, and listening to The Statler Brothers. There wasn’t a fur baby she didn’t spoil with treats or a person who went hungry; her home was an open door to all. She was the best person and family was everything. She was the heart of the family and a safe place for everyone.

Her life has left a lasting memory on all our family, as well as many friends and co-workers. We hope she knew how truly special she was and that she was loved beyond words. Our family is privileged to have been loved by her and to have known what an incredible woman she was.

She will be remembered for her smile, laughter, and kindness to all. She loved her family dearly and always offered her support. She was a remarkable woman and will be missed beyond measure. Joyce was the heart of our family, the thread that wove us together with her love, wisdom, and her warm heart. We will keep her memory alive, even in the little things.

Joyce is survived by her daughters, Cindy (Jeff) Whitefield, Dawn (Todd) Emery, Vicki Bowers; sisters, Joan Nicholson, Darlene Nelson, and Audi Hill, sister-in-law, Marlene Bell; grandchildren, Heather (Donald), Michael (Katie), Austin, Stephanie, Tricia, Matthew, Jeremy and Colby (Alyshia); numerous great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her son, Timothy Bowers, her parents, sister, Tootie Price, and brother, Charles Bell.

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