Joyce A. Brand, 83, of Newton, died Thursday eve-ning, Apr. 6, 2017, at Accura Health Care East in Newton. A time of remembrance and celebration of life was held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Apr. 10, at Sully First Reformed Church. Burial was in Sully Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to Hope Ministries and/or Many Hands for Haiti.
Joyce was born Oct. 12, 1933, in rural Sully, the daughter of Lawrence Louis and Wilma (Lanser) Van Rees. She graduated from Sully High School with the Class of 1951.
Mar. 11, 1954, Joyce was united in marriage with Charles Dean Brand at Sully Christian Reformed Church. To this union three girls were born: Gweneth, Susan, and Lorie.
She retired as a physical therapist aide at Skiff Medical Center, Newton. Joyce was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. She was a member of Sully First Reformed Church and enjoyed gardening, crocheting, reading, travel, and Christmas with her family.
Joyce is survived by her husband Charles of Newton; her girls and their husbands: Gweneth (Darrell) Gosselink of Newton, Susan (Gary) Geels of Panora, and Lorie (Kenneth) Van Soelen of Sully; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchil-dren; a twin sister, Joan Verhey of Pella; her sister, Henrietta Laverman of Sully; a brother, Dave (Bonnie) Van Rees of Lynnville; and her many good neighbors and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Lenora Nikkel; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers-in-law.
