MIDLAND, Texas — Joyce Marie (Ewald) Leiker, 86, of Midland, Texas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016. Joyce was born March 17, 1930, in Great Bend, to Smith Joseph Ewald and Rose E. Schartz. She graduated from Ellinwood High School in 1948 and married the love of her life Daniel J. Leiker on June 7, 1949, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ellinwood. She was a dedicated mom and homemaker while living in Bushton and St. John. In 1967 she moved to Kermit, Texas and enjoyed working outside of the home with Avon and in retail sales with Montgomery Wards and the Fashion Shop. Joyce and Dan moved to Midland in 1982 where she worked in sales at Dunlap’s before retiring in January 1988. After retirement and traveling, Joyce and Dan served as Eucharistic ministers at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Midland, Texas for several years. Joyce’s love of her faith was demonstrated by her kindness to all who knew her. She will be missed by her family and all her friends at Manor Park.
She is survived by her three sons, Merle and wife Christine of Midland, Texas, Loren and wife Cathy of McKinney, Texas and Gary of Lubbock, Texas; three grandchildren, Gabriel Leiker and wife Melissa of Lubbock, Texas, John Leiker and wife Amy of Morgantown, Texas, and Angela Austin and husband Gene of Odessa, Texas; along with seven great-grandchildren. Joyce is also survived by two sisters, Corrine (Bieberle) Batchman of Ellinwood, and Bernadine (Ewald) Overman and husband Don of Scottsbluff, Ariz.; five brothers, Jerome Ewald and wife Elvera of Wichita, Marvin Bieberle and wife Marge of Great Bend, Ron Bieberle and wife Paula of Ellinwood, Gordon Bieberle of Chicago, Ill. and Floyd Bieberle and wife Peggy of Derby; and two widowed sisters-in-law, Shirley Ewald of Oregon and Mary Bieberle of Great Bend. Joyce is preceded in death by her husband Daniel John; daughter Sandra Louise Leiker; her parents, Smith Ewald and Rose (Shartz Ewald) Bieberle, and Nick L. Bieberle; her brothers Bob Ewald and Norbert Bieberle; and brother-in-law Ron Batchman.
A Rosary service was held on Sunday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel. Funeral Mass was held on Monday, Aug. 8, at 2 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church. Burial followed at Serenity Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be donated to St Stephen’s Catholic Church in Midland, Texas or Helping Hands in Midland, Texas. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Nalley-Pickle and Welch Funeral Home and Crematory **
3800 N Big Spring St
Midland, TX 79710
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 16, 2016
