OBITUARY: Joyce Evelyn (Horton) Beisswenger, Mitchell County, Iowa Joyce Evelyn (Horton) Beisswenger [ Mitchell Co. Press-News online -- Posted Dec. 18, 2002 ] A memorial service, followed by a reception for sharing with family and friends, was held Saturday, December 14 at 2 pm at Edgehill United Methodist Church for Joyce Evelyn (Horton) Beisswenger, age 72. Rev. Bill Barnes officiated. Her body was donated to Meharry Medical College. She departed peacefully Saturday, December 7, 2002. A native of Osage, IA Joyce graduated in 1948 from Osage High School and was elected band queen. She received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa, where she founded a program of hospitality for international students that continues today. She earned a Masters of Religious Studies from Yale Divinity School, and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Tennessee. She worked in the social work field for many years in Nashville, including positions with Planned Parenthood, Scarritt College, the YWCA and Matthew 25. At the YWCA she developed and directed the Displaced Homemakers Program, and the New Start Program for women ex-offenders. She co-founded with her husband in 1983 the Penuel Ridge Contemplative Retreat Center in Cheatham Co., TN. Joyce was a long-time member of Edgehill United Methodist Church in Nashville. She is remembered for her generous spirit, her piano playing, and her tireless devotion to her family, to promoting civil rights and to helping persons in need. Joyce's survivors include her husband, Donald Beisswenger, six children: son Siram of Berkeley, CA; son Drew, daughter-in-law Lisa Langston and granddaughter Helen of Springfield, MO; son Tom, daughter-in -law Mary and granddaughter Sara of Athens, GA; son Philip, daughter-in-law Bacilia and grandsons Daniel and Matthew of Nashville, TN, daughter Suzanne Ross, son-in-law Jim and grandchildren Emily and Parker of Simpsonville, SC; daughter Rebecca Duvall, son-in-law Rick and grandchildren Dylan and Rachel of Franklin, TN; brothers Phil Horton and Bob Horton and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews. She helped raise eight foster children. Donations in lieu of flowers may be given to Penuel Ridge Contemplative Retreat Center, endowment fund or building fund, 1440 Sams Creek Road, Ashland City, TN 37015. Copyright (c) 2002 by Kermit Kittleson (Note: I am not necessarily related to the subject of the obituary.) This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. **************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ****************************************************************************