Joyce Iona Laub

May 5, 1931 - April 23, 2024 Joyce Iona Laub (Challands), 92, of Grand Junction, Iowa, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2024. She lived a long and some would say a complete life, sharing nearly 69 years of marriage to Lewie Laub, and getting to enjoy most of what life has to offer. Joyce was born in Perry, Iowa in 1931 to George Challands (1902-1972) and Anna Johnson (1906-1975). She grew up there, attending Perry High School, graduating in 1949. Two years later, she married Lewis Laub on December 26, 1951. Lewie had recently joined the Air Force, and they were stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois after a short honeymoon. They eventually came back to Grand Junction, Iowa where they raised Susan (1955) and Mitch (1959). Joyce worked at Franklins in Jefferson for 20 years, working on the manufacturing line. She retired in 1986. During much of the 90's and early 2000's Joyce and Lewie were winter Texans. They would pack up and drive down to La Feria, TX from about October through March every year. There, they made numerous friends, played lots of pool and other games, took day trips across the border or to nearby towns, and enjoyed the warm weather! Also during much of the 90's and early 2000's, their 2 granddaughters, Sarah & Kathy from Denver, CO, would stay the summer with them in Iowa. It's hard to say if this kept their youth alive, or accelerated old age, but they truly enjoyed their time together. Every summer there were many family picnics, taking the grandkids on rides in the old Model A, visiting Spring Lake in the motorhome, building or flying model airplanes, and playing games or baking with the girls. Joyce sure had a sweet tooth, and she enjoyed making lots of treats. She also enjoyed trips to Tama, playing a round of golf, or getting in a game of Sequence or Dominoes when she could. Joyce especially loved birds, particularly cardinals. She loved to put out bird feeders waiting to see what would visit. Everywhere Joyce & Lewie lived, you saw a birdfeeder full of birdseed or nectar outside a window, hoping to catch a glimpse of something for more than a few seconds, or just to listen to their song. Every time we see a cardinal, we will think of our sweet Joyce. As the saying goes "Cardinals appear when loved ones are near". Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lewie Laub, her daughter Susan Holz, and her twin sister Janice McDowell. She is survived by her son Mitchell Laub (Mitchellville), her sister Sharon Laub (Rippey), her three grandkids: Sarah Goldsmith (Fort Collins), Kathy Carroll (Omaha), and Christopher Subburt (Glidden), and four great-grandkids: Emma, Carter, Jackson, and Jonah. * A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 29, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church in Grand Junction. Interment will take place in the Rippey Cemetery. Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson is in charge of these arrangements* Previous Events Memorial Service APR 29. 10:00 AM (CT) First United Methodist Church 302 13th Street N Grand Junction, IA 50107