Joyce Kay (Farris) Burkholder
March 13, 1945 – February 22, 2026
Born to Fred Henry and Avis Amby Farris in Many Springs, MO., the 5th born of six kids Dorothy, Robert, Daisy, Jean, Joyce (Kay) and Dessie. From her humble roots, being raised by a widowed parent in southern Missouri, Kay knew the value of hard work. Kay played Volleyball in High School under her lucky number, 13, and was voted the 1962 Senior Carnival Queen at Alton High. In the summers of her teen years, Kay would work at her sister Dot’s Beauty School in St Louis as bookkeeper to earn money for back to school. Kay graduated high school in Alton, MO; Kay was married 1 week out of high school to Donald E. Burkholder, May 25, 1962, and moved to her home in Gilbertville Iowa where she resided for 60+ years. Kay had 3 children, Clint, Carl and Dawna as well as stepson Donald Akers. In the early years, Kay was responsible for the feed and care of the Rodeo stock and secretaried at the Rodeos. Kay was widowed in 1977. Kay was an extremely supportive Rodeo/Football/Volleyball Mom with tons of bonus daughters and sons who gravitated toward her caring understanding nature. With the help and support of Don and Eunice Burkholder, Kay was able to attend Pitze’s Beauty School and obtained her Iowa Cosmetology License in 1978. From that point on Kay was a hairdresser in the Cedar Valley, working for Regis Salons and JC Penney Salon at Crossroads Mall until her retirement in 2010. In 1987, Kay met and fell hopelessly in love with Joe DeGroote Jr. They loved family gatherings and every holiday was guaranteed to be a filled with food and fun. The pair solidified the Gold standard in Grandparenting and took amazing care to balance the scales of good advisors, patient listeners and resources of wisdom for their grandkids. Their love spanned 38 years.
Kay is proceeded in death by her Parents Fred and Avis Farris; Husband Donald Burkholder; Siblings Dorothy Thee, Robert Farris, Daisy Polley, Jean Eudaley and Dessie Rottinghaus; daughter in law Mari Burkholder, son in law Tim Hippen, stepson Donald Akers.
Kay is survived by Joe DeGroote Jr of Parkersburg, and son Clint Burkholder of Allison, son Carl (Debbie) Burkholder of Clyde, TX, daughter Dawna (Scott) Schmit of Gilbertville, JoLyn (Jeff) Young of Parkersburg, Terry (LaRee) DeGroote of Parkersburg, Christine (Steve) Eiten of Parkersburg. And Kay’s pride and joy the Grand kids; Chantry (TJ) Noel of West Branch, Caleb (Cassie) Burkholder of Oxford, Cody (Ashley) Burkholder of Dayton, Kenzie (Nick) Burkholder of Janesville, Kayhil Schmit of Gilbertville, Dakota Burkholder of Allison, Jaeda Young of Parkersburg, Justine (Micah) Perryman of Hawaii, Jordan (April) Young of Apple Valley, MN, Micah Burkholder of Waterloo, Stacie (Dan) Loveless of Washburn, Christopher Akers of Waterloo, Amy (Chris) Kittrell of Parkersburg, Canon (Cal) Keller of Baxter and Karson DeGroote of Des Moines, and many Great Grandchildren!
Memorial Services: 11:00 am, Monday, March 2nd, 2026, at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo with interment following services at Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg.
Visitation for an hour before services at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the family.