Joyce A. Bower

Joyce Bower, 85, of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2026. She was born on August 10, 1941, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the daughter of Merlyn and Irene (Franckowiak) Edwards. Joyce leaves behind a lifetime of love, laughter, hard work, family traditions, and memories that will be cherished for generations to come.

Joyce was one of the toughest women you could ever meet. She was strong, independent, hardworking, and never afraid to speak her mind. She was a true no-nonsense woman who lived life on her own terms. After working at Jones Dairy Farm for 18 years, she moved to Florida, where she owned and operated a lawn-care business well into her seventies, a testament to her determination and incredible work ethic.

But beneath that toughness was a woman with a big heart.

Joyce was a woman of strong faith. She was dedicated to the Lord and the churches she attended. She served her church with passion, including altar guild, lawn care and gardening, driving others to church, and going on mission trips with the youth group.

Joyce's greatest love was her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who found her greatest joy in spending time with the people she loved. She is survived by her children, Donald Coleman (Amy), Suzanne Biedenharn (Bruce), Joyce Coleman Kloskey (Scott), and Rita Coleman; her grandchildren, Samantha Stedman, Blake Gleiter, Miranda Gleiter, David Coleman (Tiffany), Kelsey Carlton (Bryce), and Makayla Ullery; and her great-grandchildren, Brookelynn and Kaeson Stedman, Ryan and Keagan Nasett, and Lincoln, Eloise, and Reese Carlton; and her siblings, David Edwards, Mary Olson, and Karen Edwards.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Lee Edwards; her brother-in-law, Ron Olson; and her great-grandson, Declan Stedman.

Joyce had a special way of showing her love—she baked it.

Her kitchen was often filled with the smell of something homemade, whether she was baking for a birthday, a holiday, a family gathering, church, or simply because she wanted to do something kind for someone. For years, her family looked forward to receiving boxes of homemade baked goods at Christmas.

Joyce loved passing those traditions down. In her later years, she began teaching her children and grandchildren how to make the recipes they loved most—pumpkin bread, apple pie, moose balls, frosted Christmas cookies, and chocolate cake—ensuring the memories would continue long after she was gone.

She also treasured the simple moments. She loved going out for breakfast with her family, sitting around a table enjoying food, talking and laughing. Frosting cookies, coloring, or puzzles were favorite times with the children. Those ordinary moments, which may have seemed small at the time, will become some of their most precious memories.

Joyce also found happiness in music (especially Elvis), chocolate, her dogs, reading, feeding andwatching the birds, and travel.

Joyce will be remembered for her strength, her sense of humor, her generosity, and her love for her family. The love she gave will live on through the recipes she taught, the traditions she created, the stories they share, and the memories she left with everyone who knew her — passed from one generation to the next.

Although her family is heartbroken by her loss, they find comfort in knowing that Joyce is no longer in pain. After a long and beautifully lived life, she has traded her earthly body for a brand-new heavenly one.

Her family will look for her in the butterflies that flutter by, in the beauty of gardens, the flow of a waterfall, the smell of baking, and the table where stories and laughter are shared.

We will miss you so much, until Heaven calls us home.

A service will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church,302 Merchants Ave., Fort Atkinson. Luncheon will be served following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter's Episcopal Church (stpetersfort.org), Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center (rainbowcommunitycare.org), or Albert's Dog Lounge(albertsdoglounge.org).

Nitardy Funeral Home of Fort Atkinson is proudly serving the family.