Heaven gained an angel!
Joyce (Vang) Hanlon passed away peacefully on June 24, 2024, at age 92 at her home in Harmony, Minn., surrounded by her pride and joy, her children.
Joyce grew up in Harmony and was the only child of William and Hildred (Londroche) Vang. She graduated from Harmony High School, participating in chorus, glee club and operetta. After high school, she headed off to the big city of Minneapolis. She returned to Harmony and married the love of her life, Lyle Hanlon. It was here they chose to raise their family.
She was a quiet source of strength for her family. She was a talented seamstress, including making four of her daughters’ wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses. She enjoyed reading and had a green thumb, planting both flower and vegetable gardens. She was an excellent cook and baker.
Joyce was involved in Church Circle, American Legion Auxiliary, and volunteered at the nursing home “rolling” hair. After Lyle’s retirement, she went to work as a cook at the Harmony Hospital.
Summers often included loading up all nine kids into the station wagon and driving up to a lake for a summer vacation (we’re pretty sure it wasn’t a vacation for Mom!) She loved fishing and has the trophy to prove it!
The legacy Joyce left behind is the love of her family. She always dreamed of having a big family and she succeeded! She is survived by eight children, 18 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Children: Deborah (Greg) Bledsoe, Bonnie (Don Schiele) Hanlon, Lorelei (Cyrus Dean) Shaw, Patricia (Steven) Brink, Brad Torgerson (son-in-law), Dawn (Ron) Zimmer, William (Diane) Hanlon, Karen (Bryan) Raguse, and Sharon (Chris) Martin.
Grandchildren: Aric (Crystal) Bledsoe, Matthew (Crystal) Bledsoe, Bethany Bledsoe, Jennifer (Korey Mollenhauer) Cassen, Timothy (Steph Broshar) Shaw, Karli (Galen) Hughes, Kyle (Paola) Brink, Travis (Val) Torgerson, Traci Dedeker, Andrea (Cody) Westlund, Wendy (Curt) Pfremmer, Kelly (Seth) Luedtke, Gannon and Gabe Raguse, Emily, Cole (Sarah Claire), Katie and Abigail Martin.
Great-grandchildren: Bailee Denyer, Lucas, Logan, Attison and Harlie Bledsoe, Brooklyn and Collin Bledsoe, Victoria and Ian Cassen, Trey and Anna Shaw, Royce Hughes, Maria and Gabriel Brink, Grace and Gunnar Torgerson, Parker, Della and Jack Westlund, Nathan Pfremmer, Alexis (Paul) Madsen, and William, Rose and Samuel Luedtke.
Great-great grandchildren: Milena Roberts and Henry Madsen.
Joyce was a devoted mother and loving wife who was preceded in death by her husband Lyle, daughter Barbara Torgerson, grandson-in-law George Dedeker, and best friend and sister-in-law Esther (Soland) Hanlon.
Funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 28, at Greenfield Lutheran Church, 235 S Main Street, Harmony, Minn. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at Greenfield Lutheran Church. A private burial will be held at St. Agnes Plymouth Rock Catholic Cemetery, Burr Oak Township, Iowa. Schmelzer (Lindstrom) Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
The family would like to thank Mayo Clinic Hospice for their compassionate care as well as the private care team for their love and support. We are indebted to you.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harmony Volunteer Ambulance, Harmony Volunteer Fire Department or Mayo Clinic Hospice.