Obituary of Joyce Fastenow

Joyce E. Fastenow passed away on April 24, 2024, at age 77. Joyce was born in Osceola, Iowa on November 2, 1946, the daughter of F. Merle and Thelma (Reynolds) Drinkall. She grew up on a small family farm east of Osceola, attended a one-room country school, and graduated from Clarke Community High School in Osceola and the Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Des Moines. She worked as a staff nurse for Iowa Methodist Hospital for a time, but then moved to Iowa City to work at University Hospitals.

While working at UIHC, she met her future husband, Craig, through mutual friends. It was love at first sight, and they were married in December 1970 after a six-month courtship. They were married for more than 53 years.

To this union, two daughters were born: Dianne and Andrea. In 1985, when the girls were 10 and 7 years old, Joyce had spine surgery during which something went wrong, and she was paralyzed from the chest down. Life became exponentially more difficult, but she never let it get her down. There has never been a more determined, stronger-willed person than Joyce. Craig designed and had built a custom fully wheelchair-accessible home for her. This enabled her to carry on with the great passions of her life: cooking, art and reading.

Joyce was a gifted artist, specializing in pencil drawings of old houses, barns, covered bridges, and other historical structures. She also drew wildlife and interesting people. We have used her artwork on our Christmas cards for many years and will continue to do so. She also loved to read, especially art books, and built an extensive library.

She was predeceased by her parents. Left to cherish her memory are her husband Craig, daughters Dianne Benjamin and her husband Bryan, and Andrea Fastenow and her husband John Woods, and three grandchildren, Sophia, Charlotte, and Elliot.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Compassus Hospice for their compassionate, caring support during the last three weeks of Joyce’s life. They were invaluable and will be forever in our hearts. Thank you so very much!

The family will host an informal Celebration of Life in their home at 3503 Foxana Drive in Iowa City on May 25th from 2 to 5 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Compassus Hospice or to your favorite charity. That is what Joyce would want.