Joyce Schroeder Nelson

Joyce Schroeder Nelson was born on July 16, 1930 to Otto and Amelia Schroeder in Dime Box, Texas. She was reared in the community of Wesley, graduated from Brenham High School, and the Brackenridge Hospital School of Nursing.

In 1950, she married F. Murphy Nelson M.D. While Joyce and Murphy lived in Galveston she worked as an operating room nurse in the Special Surgery Unit of John Sealy Hospital.

After moving to Austin in 1956, she became an active member of the Women's Auxiliary to the Travis County Medical Society. For many years she worked to recruit future nurses and health care personnel in the Austin area and throughout the state. Joyce served as president of the Women's Auxiliary of the Travis County Medical Society and Health Career Chairman for the Women's Auxiliary of the Texas Medical Association.

A life-long member of the Lutheran Church, Joyce was an active member of St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Austin since 1956. Joyce was a faithful member of the Women of St Martin's Lutheran Church, serving the organization as President for four years. She was also a past president of the Church's Alter Guild.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Murphy and brother Otto Schroeder. She is survived by her children Sandra Kristoferson and husband John of Denton, Texas; David Nelson and wife Carol of Marble Falls, Texas; Stuart Nelson and wife Beth of Austin, Texas; grandchildren, Joel Kristoferson and wife Tara Kaufmann M.D., Kari Chambers and husband Patrick, Kyle Kristoferson, Courtland Kristoferson, Scott Nelson and fiancée Maria Hernandez, Clay Nelson; great-grandchild Hudson Chambers; step-grandchildren Catherine Bedell and husband Kent, Dave Helms and wife Amy; step-great-grandchildren Hayden Bedell, Harper Bedell, Alison Helms and Rachel Helms; a sister, Angeline Eckermann of Houston; sister-in-law, Ann Schroeder of Austin; numerous nieces and nephews; and close friends Margaret Hitzfeld, Dennis Sweazea, Matt Wall and Dwayne McAdams.

Friends, desiring to do so, may make memorial contributions to the St. Martin's Lutheran Church Alter Guild or Hospice Austin.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 15, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 16, 2016 at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th Street. Interment will be private.