Joyce Marie Klepel

Joyce Marie (Rahmeier) Klepel was born on February 5, 1938 in her mother's house in rural Coffey County, Kansas to Martin and Lucille Rahmeier. When she was 12 years old her parents bought a farm in Prairie City, Missouri and moved their family. Joyce attended the Lutheran School in Prairie City up to 8th grade after which she continued high school in Rich Hill, Missouri. Joyce attended Concordia Lutheran college in Seward, Nebraska where she met Duane Klepel. They were married on December 26, 1959 at the Lutheran Church in Prairie City.

She followed her husband and lived in New York City where Duane had a teaching position for the first four years of their marriage. During those years her first daughters, Mary (Brown) and Dawn(L Suwaratana) were born.

They then moved to Lino Lakes and then to Lynd, Minnesota where Duane worked in Honeywell (3 years) and taught at Lynd high school (4 years). During those years her two sons, Daniel Duane Klepel and Robert Martin Klepel were born.

Joyce said she always felt a call in her heart to missions. From early on in her marriage she sent Sunday school materials to churches in India. So in 1972 when Duane suggested they sell their home and travel to Israel to do mission work, she was happily agreed.

Duane, Joyce and family served the Lord in Israel for 2 years and then returned to live in Rich Hill, Missouri.

In 1976 Duane again felt the call to the mission field, this time in Asia. Once again, Joyce happily gave up all their earthly possessions except what would fit in the suitcases and the family set out for the mission field. They visited India for one week and Joyce was able to meet some of the pastors whom she had sent the Sunday school materials to!

Joyce and Duane and family settled in Thailand and served the Lord there for 20 years. During that time another daughter, Judy, was born. Joyce was 42 years old at that time. Judy was born at a primitive midwife's clinic in Thailand.

Duane, Joyce and Judy returned to the United States in 1997,to care for their aging parents. After they returned, yet another son was added to the family. Rosen joined the Klepel family by adoption on March 2, 1997.

After both sets of parents had passed on, when Joyce was in her 70's, she followed her husband back to the mission field; this time Australia.

Joyce thoroughly enjoyed the 5 years they lived in Australia. She taught Bible class at a few public schools and ministered to the elderly.

Joyce returned with her husband Duane to the United States in 2018 when at long last they both retired from missionary life - well into their 80's. Of the 60 years they were married, 30 of them were spent on the mission field overseas. Although in retirement, she continued to show God's love in the community and at her church.

Joyce loved to write and was known for her many writings of their mission life abroad. Although she was proceeded in death by her parents, Martin and Lucille Rahmeier, and her husband, Duane of 65 years,she is survived by her sister, Treva (Leon) Bright; 3 daughters, Mary (David) Brown, Dawn (Tosh) Lsuwaratana and Judy (Israel) Dryer; and 3 sons, Daniel Klepel and Robert (Ruth) Klepet, Rosen(Oksana), in addition to 28 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Since Joyce's children live in many different time zones across the world they will hold a live online memorial service for Joyce. The date and time will be posted and accessed through Duane and Joyce Klepel's Facebook account.

Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com