Joyce J. Birch

Joyce J. Birch, 76, of Garner passed away unexpectedly Friday, June 12, 2020 at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City.

Per her wishes, she was cremated. No services are planned at this time.

Joyce Janine Birch, the daughter of Edward and Eleanor (Irving) Brozik, was born February 12, 1944 in Garner. She attended Garner-Hayfield High School and graduated from La James College of Hairstyling in Mason City. On August 8, 1966 she was married to Gary Birch in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They lived in Washburn, Iowa before moving to Duncan in 1971. In 1973, they moved to their home in Garner where Joyce operated her own beauty shop, Joyce’s Beauty Salon, until retiring in 2014. After her father passed away in 1997, she took care of her mother until her passing in 2014. Joyce was incredibly gifted in arts and crafts. She and Gary enjoyed square dancing in Des Moines, bowling, attending corvette cars shows in Indiana and trips to Las Vegas, Hawaii and California. She will be remembered for her sharp mind, quick wit and love for animals.

In her earlier years, she attended and taught Sunday school at the United Presbyterian Church in Garner.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Gary, of Garner; Gary’s son, Jeff (Diane) Rumma of Santa Maria, CA and their two children, Christopher (Colleen) Rumma and Jennifer Rumma; four siblings, Janice Torkelson of Austin, MN, Dallas (Doris) Brozik of Huntington, WV, JoAnn Cutshall (John Vogel) of League, TX and Danette Brozik of Des Moines; many nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers-in-law, Clarence Torkelson and Larry Cutshall.