Obit: Rayburn, Joy E. (1943 - 2005)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Surnames: Rayburn, Blood, Nielsen, Gustafson, Masanz, Maxwell, Henderlong, Stucki, Hellwig

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, WI) October 12, 2005

Rayburn, Joy E. (December 20, 1943 - October 10, 2005)

Joy E Rayburn, age 61, of Pittsville went home to be with the Lord Monday, October 10, 2005.

Joy was born on December 20, 1943 in Beloit, to George and Sylvia (Blood) Nielsen Sr. She graduated from Neillsville High School in 1961. She married Daniel Rayburn Sr. on April 7, 1962 in Neillsville, Wis. Joy worked as a Home Health Caretaker, a secretary for church and the Pittsville Record, and from 1985-2001 she worked at the Post Office. After retiring in 2002, Joy and Dan traveled to many destinations around the country often accompanied by family and friends.

Joy was a loving grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, attending their activities at church and school and having them come over as often as possible. She was a member of and served in various positions at the Evangelical Free Church—Sunday school teacher, Sunday school secretary, church secretary, Awana and youth leader, deaconess, hostess committee, and an officer of Women’s Missionary Society. Volunteering with a servant heart was her gift to all of us.

She is survived by her husband, Daniel Sr.; four children, Daniel Jr. (Kim) Rayburn of Pittsville; Laurel (Kent) Gustafson of Wauconda, IL; Phillip (Michelle) Rayburn and Diana (Russell) Masanz all of Pittsville; three brothers, Virgil Nielsen of Kenosha; Forrest (Emily) Nielsen of Grand Forks, ND; and Glenn (Sue) Nielsen of St. Louis, MO; four sisters, Betty Maxwell of Beloit; Shirley (Larry) Henderlong of Jackson, MI; Dawn (David) Stucki of Waunakee, and Wendy (Glen) Hellwig of Brooklyn; eight grandchildren, Justin and Jordan Rayburn; Greg and Anastasia Gustafson; Dallas and Austin Rayburn; Aron and Aidan Masanz; and several nieces and nephew.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers.

There will be visitation at the Pittsville Evangelical Free Church from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, and 10-11 a.m. Thursday. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 13, at the church. Pastor Bruce Naugle will officiate. Interment will be at the Mound Cemetery, Pittsville. Memorial gifts may be made to Arrowhead Bible Camp designated to the Joy Rayburn Memorial, 30765 117th Street, New Auburn, WI 54757. Buchanan Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.