Joy Howe

Joy Howe
Des Moines, Iowa

Joy Howe, 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa on June 15, 2026. She was born on November 12, 1934 to Waldo and Ruby Frances (Graham) Rayburn in Osceola, Iowa.

Joy had a great love of life and embraced each day with enthusiasm and warmth. She was passionate about gardening and took great pleasure in countless hours tending her flowers and plants. Her beloved cats were constant companions and a source of happiness. She especially enjoyed road trips and traveling with her husband and would write journals during their adventures together. She remained close with her family throughout life and shared an especially close bond with twin sister Joyce.

Joy enjoyed bowling and participated in bowling leagues where she built lasting friendships and shared many happy times. She loved to collect figurines of chickens that decorated her home. Joy enjoyed fishing and later in life, she discovered a love for needlework and ceramics. She could often be found trying her luck at slot machines for fun and excitement. Joy was a tireless worker and was rarely found idle.

Above all else, her family was at the center of her life. She cherished her children, grandchildren nieces and nephews beyond measure.

Joy is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Dale; children Scot (Stacy) Howe, Alan (Julie) Howe, Gary (Julie Freese) Howe and Daleen (Bill) Snyder; grandchildren Brandt (Alexas) Howe, Brandon Howe, Emily (Thomas) Luke, Colin Howe, Charis (Sean) Leonard, Alicia (Josh) Grijalva and Alex Toledo; 10 great-grandchildren, twin sister Joyce (Don) McClellan, brothers-in-law, Frank LePera and George Norris; numerous nieces and nephews along with extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Monte Rayburn, Janet Norris, Gail LePera, Iona Rayburn and Marjorie Rayburn.

Family will greet guests on Monday, June 22, 2026 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Hamilton's near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa. A funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. , at the funeral home. Joy will be laid to rest in a private burial at Iowa Veteran's Cemetery, Adel, Iowa at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, 5452 NE 22nd Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50313

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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