Joyce Damon

TAMA-Joyce (Beckner) Damon, 90, of Cedar Falls and formerly of Tama, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2025 surrounded by her family and under the care of UnityPoint Hospice at UnityPoint Health-Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. A Graveside Service will be held Monday, December 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein. Visitation will be held Monday, December 22, 2025 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.

Joyce was born on May 7, 1935, in Oelwein, Iowa, the daughter of William and Mabel (Keniston) Beckner.

Joyce lived and graduated from Oelwein Community Schools.

On March 28, 1954, she was united in marriage to Fred Damon at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein. They had two children, Kathi Jean and Kenneth Joe.

Joyce worked for many years as church secretary at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tama. Later in life, Joyce also worked at city hall in Tama.

Joyce enjoyed bowling, fishing, playing cards, and going to the casino. She also enjoyed her many trips to Leech Lake with Fred and they wintered in McAllen, TX for twenty-four years. Joyce spent her last six years of her life living with her daughter, Kathi and her husband, Al. She was by far the favorite of the cats in the house as they fought over who got to sit on her lap. Joyce also enjoyed her trips to the Mississippi River where she enjoyed fishing, boating and just relaxing in her lawn chair.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathi (Alan) Abkes of Cedar Falls, and Kenneth (Carole) Damon of Eldora; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Chad) Hellberg, Gordon (Cassidy) Abkes, Shaunna (Chris) Johannes, Virginia (Lee) Leisinger, Clint (Brittany) Damon, and Claire (Tyler) Petersen; sixteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Fred of sixty-five years; and a sister, Jean.