Obituary: Joyce England
Joyce Elaine England, born November 26th, 1942, in Ringgold County, IA to Paul and Veneta Dukes. Joyce departed this life on December 11, 2025, at the Clearview Nursing Home with family by her side.
Joyce was welcomed home by her older brother John Philip Dukes on their family farm near Diagonal, Iowa. She attended country school a mile north of the family farm, where she rode her pony to school with brother Philip leading them both. She challenged herself to learn to whistle and boy, did she ever! That whistle was famous wherever she went! She then attended Shannon City High School as they had girls’ basketball and then attended Diagonal Community High School to play basketball and softball where she graduated in 1960.
In 1960, she became well-known after being in Sports Illustrated’ s “Faces in the Crowd” after pitching a softball game with a broken left arm, striking out 17 batters and then hitting a game winning 2-run home run to win the game. She loved sports her entire life!
She worked at various jobs like selling Mary Kay Cosmetics and waitressing at the Tingley Café for Lloyd & Suzanne Miller. While waitressing at the Café one summer day, she met Larry England, who she “persuaded” to give her a ride to a Diagonal softball game after she had finished her shift. From that day on, she and Larry were inseparable.
Joyce and Larry were married on November 12,1961 in Diagonal, Iowa. From their union came Larry Michael, Mitchell Paul and Mark Edward. Joyce enjoyed being a farm wife and could be found working alongside Larry and her parents, Paul & Veneta, in all aspects of their farming operation.
Grandma Joyce loved sports and could be found cheering on any team in the area and the Iowa State Cyclones. She was Grandma Joyce to numerous kids over the years.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Larry on November 14th 2025, beloved parents, Paul & Veneta, her in-laws, Lloyd & Evelyn England, along with her brother, Philip, her brothers-in-law Jim, Robert and his wife Lois, and Bill, her sister-in-law Doris and her husband Curtis, and niece Sharene England Culp.
She is survived by children, Mike and Diane England of Urbandale, Mitch and Melinda England of Diagonal and Mark and Andrea England of Johnston. Grandchildren Tanner England, Jeremy and Jennifer England, Jacy and Edgar Nunez, Karlee and Bud Sweeney, Ryan and Sierra England, Brett and Samantha England, Weston England, Lauren England and fiancé Leighton Tanke and Brody England. Great grandchildren, Tucker, Sawyer and Rex England, Opal, Gwen, and Wayne England, Louis Nunez, Blaire England and Willow and Baby Sweeney due in March 2026. Sister-in-laws Myrna and Steve Spurlock, Caryl Dukes and Marian England. Many nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family and a long list of friends.
Once in a while, you meet someone who has a huge impact on your life. Joyce was that person to everyone she met. She had a purse full of sparkles that brought smiles to many faces, encouraged all to be their best, and made people believe that Santa is real. (She had “Santa’s” phone number!) Iowa State Cyclones decorated her world and led her and Larry on several trips to the Big 12 Basketball tournament in Kansas City. She was the biggest supporter of any kid playing sports (or doing what they love) and made them feel like they could reach higher than the sky. Joyce was the best grandma to nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren (and more on the way!), and Grandma Juice to all. We believe that Joyce will keep putting sparkles in your eyes, laughter in your voice, and love in your heart. Treasure the memories!
Services were held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, December 15, 2025, at the United Church of Diagonal. Casketbearers were Tanner England, Jeremy England, Ryan England, Brett England, Weston England, Brody England, Scott Busch. Honorary pallbearers were Jacy Nunez, Ed Nunez, Karlee Sweeney, Bud Sweeney, Lauren England, Leighton Tanke, Jennifer England, Sierra England, Samantha England. Burial followed in the Diagonal Cemetery. Memorials are to the United Church of Diagonal and Diagonal D-Club. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements.
