Joyce Ann (Rhodes) Schriner was born March 8, 1939, to Earl and Ella (Burhoop) Rhodes near Exeter.
She attended Peace Lutheran School and graduated from Waco High School in 1956. As a young woman attending Concordia University, Joyce worked at Dale’s Steakhouse, which is where she met her future husband, Garrett “Gary” Loran Schriner. The two were united in marriage on Nov. 23, 1958, at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Eventually, the couple moved to Lincoln, where Gary and Joyce raised three children and lived their entire married life together. Joyce continued her education by attending the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and earning her Master’s Degree in Special Education while offering child care and working at Russell Stover Candies at night.
After graduation, Joyce worked with special needs students at Centennial Public School in Utica and Dawes Middle School, Lincoln High School and UN-L in Lincoln. In addition, she developed and presented school teacher in-service opportunities across Nebraska and coordinated federal grants which created more certified special education teachers in the state. In her free time, Joyce enjoyed researching local history, gardening, reading and decorating. She also enjoyed watching college sports, cross stitching, refinishing furniture and collecting Santas and antiques.
Joyce was a member at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln and later after she moved to Utica, a member at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Utica. She was a State Director of Youth ARC and was a Centennial Youth ARC sponsor. Memberships also include Relay for Life participant, Marketing HomeTown America, Women’s Missionary League, president of local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma for four years, Sunday School teacher, Aging Association of Seward County, Utica Betterment Committee, board of directors of Seward County Historical Society Museum, secretary of the Utica Cemetery Association and Utica Auxiliary Unit 49. Joyce also volunteered for Meals on Wheels, delivered birthday cakes to patients at the Lincoln Regional Center and significantly impacted the Utica Senior Center through the organization of fundraising and involvement.
Joyce lived a life of servitude and modesty. She dedicated her time to her community and she willingly gave all her energy to her family and friends. Joyce left the world a better place than how she found it. Joyce passed away on April 26, 2024.
She is survived by her children, Gregory (Mindy) Schriner of Denver, Colorado, Todd (Debbie) Schriner of Richmond, Virginia, and Tammy Schriner (Izzy Hernandez) of Rock Hill, South Carolina; grandchildren, Taylor Schriner, Kyle (Katie) Schriner, Rachel (Race) Sterchi, Amy (Kyle) Peregoy, Sydney Schriner, Mason Schriner, Sara (Homer) Sandoval, and Bradford (Mary) Hernandez; great-grandchildren, Marren and Jackson Sterchi, Scarlett Messer, Greyson and Carson Peregoy, Christian Sandoval, and Amara Hernandez; brothers, Roger (Jo) Rhodes of Seward, and Dick (Marge) Rhodes of Utica; siblings-in-law, James Bergantzel of Seward, Gene Schriner of Oklahoma and Carol (Deloit) Hinton of California and many, many relatives and friends. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Garrett “Gary” Schriner; parents, Earl and Ella Rhodes; parents-in-law, Frank and Adeline Schriner; brother, Donald Rhodes; sister, Janet Bergantzel; sister-in-law, Dorothy Schriner; and special friend, LaVern “Churney” Stuhr.
A gathering of family and friends will be Sunday, May 12, from 2 – 4 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home in Seward. A memorial service will be Monday, May 13, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Utica with inurnment at the Utica Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested in care of the Utica Cemetery to continue Joyce’s goal of replacing the south fence or the donor's choice. Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
