Memorial
Joyce M. “Joy” Gaddie, of Cedar Rapids died Friday April 18, 2014 at St. Luke’s Hospital after a brief illness. A private family memorial service will be held in Delhi. Friends may call at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 5 to 7 PM on Monday.
Survivors include her husband Thomas; a daughter Angie Allebach of Cedar Rapids; son Jon (Alexis) Sauer of Mercer Island, Washington; and a step-son Kyle (Oi) Gaddie of Lake Delhi. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Kristen and Eric Allebach of Cedar Rapids, Bennett Gaddie of Thailand and Torian and Nikolaus Sauer of Mercer Island, Washington.
Joyce was born on May 31, 1940 in Waterloo the daughter of Marvin and Gladys Anderson Kollmann. She married Thomas Gaddie in 1994 in Reno, Nevada.
Joyce graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and began her teaching career at McKinley Middle School. She later taught at Kennedy High School and retired from there in 2007 after 33 years of service. Joyce retired as the head of the language department, teaching both Spanish, and German. She was instrumental in advancing the German Language Department and impacted the lives of her many students.
Joyce was a member of the National Honor Society, and was the recipient of the “Teacher of the Year Award” given by the Governor of Iowa. Joyce enjoyed politics and was a staunch Republican. She was an avid reader, enjoyed baking, knitting, watching the Hawkeyes, the Pittsburgh Steelers and loved dogs. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and gifted teacher. Her memory will be cherished by all who knew and loved her.
Memorial donations may be given to St. Luke’s Hospice or the American Cancer Society.