Joyce Kissinger

Joyce Kissinger was born at home on August 21,1941 to Alvie and Frances Bird in Kerman California. She passed away on her 77th birthday, August 21, 2018. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvie & Frances Bird, sisters Marie Bird and Dolores “Dee” McNab and her husband Don, parent-in-laws Sam & Evelyn Kissinger, brothers-in-laws Clarence Kissinger and Larry Gilliland and niece, Tammy Gilliland-Adams. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Glenn Kissinger, sister Charlotte Bird, daughter Joy Kissinger-Leal and her husband Steve, grandson Dustin Moore, step grandchildren Steven & Joshua Leal, sisters-in-laws Marie Gilliland, Louretha Kissinger, Faye Lowe and her husband Don, nieces Christine Grooms, Wendy Bjorquist (& Scott), and Pam Kissinger, nephews Court McNab, Dennis Low (& Veronica), Gary Lowe (& Megan), Larry Neal Gilliland (& Esther), Mike Kissinger (& Susan), Sam Kissinger (& Jill). She has many great nieces & nephews, cousins, her best friends Lori & Bud Morris and many other close friends.

She spent her childhood in the Kerman, Easton and Biola areas. She graduated from Central Union High School in 1959 and then attended Fresno City College. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, crafts and spending time with family. She was an excellent cook, an even better baker and she could sew well, too!

She met Glenn in 1965. After about 6 months, they were married in Fresno Ca on January 8, 1966. They stayed in Fresno for a short time before moving to Santa Cruz, Ca for seven years. During that time, she worked at Sylvania Electronics before deciding that it wasn’t for her. So, she quit and began selling Tupperware.

In 1974, Joyce & Glenn sold their house in Santa Cruz and along with daughter, Joy, moved to Arizona. Within six months or so they decided to move back to California. They drove to California and made an overnight stop in Kerman at Glenn’s brother’s house. Clarence told them that he had found a job for Glenn if they wanted to live in Kerman. That was where she spent the next 44 years.

Joyce & Glenn bought a small piece of land with a home on it. Well, Glenn bought a small piece of land…late at night…in the dark…without looking at the inside of the home and without telling Joyce before making the offer. And, the offer was accepted! (This made for a very quiet few months at the Kissinger Home. Joyce was not a happy camper!) Eventually, it all worked out and they were able to buy a larger piece of land about a year later.

Besides working on the farm, Joyce worked at Cornet Drug Store and then for Bank of America in Kerman. She spent 18 years at Bank of America before retiring in 1997. For a retirement gift, Glenn gave her painting lessons, and Joyce found out that she loved to paint. She picked it up quick and really enjoyed it. She started painting on wood. She loved crafting and painting on various wooden cut outs like Snowmen and Santa Clauses and Angels and Easter Bunnies and Christmas ornaments and the list goes on!

She loved spending time with her grandson, Dustin. Her world revolved around him! If Dustin wanted something, Grandma was right there to make sure that he got it. She absolutely loved to spoil him. She wasn’t very good at disciplining him. She spanked him one time. Then she proceeded to go to her bedroom and cry for the next hour because she felt so bad!

In 2002, Joyce & Glenn decided to “officially retire”. They sold their farm and had a house built inside the city limits of Kerman and became ‘city folks’! They started cutting back on their wood crafting projects. Shortly after moving into the town of Kerman, Joyce started an old habit…baking everything and anything during the holidays and for special occasions. Some years, she would make dozens and dozens of 8 or 10 different types of cookies, fudge, pumpkins rolls and pies. For several years, dozens of those cookies would be taken to her daughter’s workplace. It only took a year or two before a lot of the people were asking Joy if ‘her mom would be bringing in cookies during the holidays’. Joyce loved making those cookies! She loved spending time with her family & friends during the holidays. Her chocolate, lemon meringue and coconut pies were to die for!!

Joyce and Glenn also took up another hobby after retiring – traveling! One of her favorite trips was to Alaska for three months. They drove as far as they could and they had a great time. Joyce also loved a trip made to Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Colorado and Utah to go Dinosaur fossil hunting with her grandson, Dustin. (Joy and Glenn went on that one, too!) It wasn’t too long before they bought a 5th wheel and joined an RV group by the name of The Lucky Ones. They spent many nights on monthly campouts with the Lucky Ones, played a lot of card games (Hand and Foot), and Joyce made lasting friendships with the people from that group.

There will be a graveside service at Fresno Memorial Gardens in Fresno Ca on September 4, 2018 at 11:00 am. We will then proceed to Kerman Covenant Church at 15495 W Whitesbridge in Kerman, Ca for a memorial service.

Remembrances may be made to Kerman Covenant Church, 15495 Whitesbridge Ave, Kerman, CA 93630.