Obituary for Joyce Diane Buck

It is with heavy hearts and immense gratitude for the time we shared that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Joyce Diane Buck, on Wednesday, September 2nd. Surrounded by her loving family, Joyce passed peacefully from this life at the Iowa River Hospice house after a long and hard-fought battle with multiple myeloma. A woman of great beauty, both inside and out, she lived her 76 years the same way she faced her cancer; with unyielding strength and profound grace.

Born on April 4, 1950, to John and Lois (Nason) Buck, Joyce was the second of four children raised in a loving, close-knit family in Rhodes, Iowa. Her childhood on the farm taught her the importance of kindness, perseverance, faith and family; all lessons that she practiced throughout her life.

After graduating from West Marshall High School in 1968, Joyce went to work for Dr. Harvey’s dental practice in Marshalltown, and married Roger Henze. Together, they had two sons, Jeff and Chris. Joyce started her career as a social worker with the Department of Human Services, becoming one of the “J’s” in the office and forging many lifelong friendships with her co-workers. She later married Bill Wrede, and with this union had a daughter, Jodi. She was married to the late Gary Dvorak and retired from DHS in 2010, after 35 years of service.

Joyce leaves behind a legacy that our family will forever carry with them, including a love of board games and cards, an appreciation for an ice-cold Diet Coke, a weakness for all things chocolate, dancing in the living room to Fleetwood Mac, and a devout love of family and friends.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Jeff (Kris) Henze, Chris (Jamie) Henze, and Jodi (Nate) Headrick; Grandchildren, Jordyn (Philip) Rockwell, Kyle Henze, Marisa (Matt) Petersen, Brooke (Tanner) Hartz, Raina Henze, James Headrick and Charlotte Headrick; 5 great-grandchildren, with another on the way; sisters, Jean Meyer-Scott and Jan Buss (Karl Pedersen); sister-in-law, Betsy Buck; numerous nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Ken Buck, and brother-in-law, Terry Scott.

A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held on Saturday, October 3rd at 11:00 a.m. at Journey Church in Marshalltown. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hope Lodge in Iowa City or Iowa River Hospice, for the genuine love, care, and respect they provided to our mother in her final days.