Joyce A. Westlund, 89 of Bettendorf, Iowa died peacefully at home on Friday, October 20, 2023. Joy was a lifelong area resident who cherished her family and living in the residential neighborhood that her parents developed. Joy graduated from Davenport High School in 1952. She then went to nursing school and graduated from Chicago Wesley Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL in 1955. She married her high school sweetheart, Kurt Dean Westlund, on September 10, 1955 at St. John’s Methodist Church in Davenport, Iowa.
Joy started her career in nursing at an oral surgery office followed by working as a school nurse. She retired in 1978. She later volunteered as a patient advocate and nursing home inspector for the state of Iowa. Additionally, she served as secretary and treasurer for her family’s business, Westlund Investments Inc. She received a Certificate of Appreciation for her nursing volunteer work in the State of Iowa from Governor Terry Branstad in 1986. She also received a State of Iowa Certificate of Appreciation for being a Resident Advocate Volunteer from Governor Thomas Vilsack in 2000. Joy was a member of the University of Iowa President’s Club and Hillsdale College President’s Club. She was passionate about traveling, which she shared with her husband, family and friends. Her travels included all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. She enjoyed creating life long memories and experienced many of her travels in a car, including trips to Mexico City, Mexico, Nova Scotia, Canada and Alaska. Joy also enjoyed golfing, bible studies, sewing, reading, especially mysteries and spending time with family and grandchildren. For over 25 years she also enjoyed the warmth of Florida during the winter months at the home she and Kurt built in New Port Richey, Florida.
Joy is survived by her husband of 68 years, Kurt Dean Westlund; daughter Kathryn Jo Westlund Stopulos and husband Patrick (Davenport, IA); son K. Jeffrey Westlund and wife Cheryl (Cedar Rapids, IA); Grandchildren and greatgrandchildren include Stephanie Ann (Josh) Stopulos Gonzalez, and their son, Thaddeus (Pasadena, CA); Theodore James (Sara) Stopulos and their son Augustine (West Des Moines, IA); Nicholas Fraser (Holly) Westlund and their children Emma, Evelynn, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Elliott (Cedar Rapids, IA); Alexandra Lynn (David) Westlund Duncan (Iowa City, IA); Peter Jeffrey Westlund (Iowa City, IA).
Family relatives include Sarah (Charlie) Denkmann Shoup, sister-in-law (Carmel, IN); Todd (Stacia) Denkmann, nephew (Carmel, IN); Amy (Pfenne) Denkmann Cantrell, niece (Indianapolis, IN).
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Verna Fraser, her grandson, Lucas Matthew Westlund and her brother-in-law, John Denkmann.
Service of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3775 Middle Rd, Bettendorf. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until time of service, with Pastor Keith Piotter officiating. Private burial will take place at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Following the service, everyone is invited to a celebration of Joy’s life and luncheon at the Cunnick-Collins Life Celebration Center - 1200 E. 39th Street, Davenport. The family will join the celebration following the burial.
The family wishes to thank all the members of the home hospice team that gave Joy such compassionate and loving end of life care. Additionally a special thank you to Christine Mulvanie and Comfort Care for being such a wonderful advocate for both Kurt and Joy providing for Joy’s care and Kurt’s support as Joy’s primary caregiver for the past four years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bettendorf or Clarissa Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.
