Helen "Joyce" Wink

Wednesday May 15, 2024 Helen ‘Joyce’ Wink, beloved mother and grandmother passed away at the age of 93 in Littleton, CO. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m, Tuesday May 21, 2024 at St. James Catholic Church with Father Joseph Hannappel officiating. Interment will be at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation is Monday, May 20, 2024 at 5 p.m. followed by the Vigil Service at 6 p.m.. Joyce was born to Louis and Katherine (Hervert) Psota on February 11, 1931 on a farm south of Ravenna, NE. She was the fifth of sixth children. She graduated as salutatorian from Ravenna HS in 1948. The first in her family to attend college, she graduated with honors from Kearney State Teachers College in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education with English and Commerce majors and a Physical Education minor. She belonged to several academic honorary fraternities and social sorority Zeta Chi Alpha. She taught Business and English at Ravenna, Gibbon and Fullerton High Schools for several years. She married Alan Wink at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Ravenna, NE in 1962. They made their home farming just north of Kearney. They were a great team and created a loving, happy home for their three daughters. Building on the strong faith developed at a young age, she participated in many ministries at St. James Catholic Church and within the Grand Island Diocese. These included bible studies, choir, co-creating a Diocesan newsletter, being a charter board member of the KCHS Foundation, the Center for Rural Affairs, and becoming an Associate with the Servants of Mary. She frequented daily Mass for many years, she read scripture and prayed for family and friends daily. Community involvement included League of Women Voters, Red Cross Bloodmobile, Sweet Adelines, ag-related Auxiliary groups, 4-H, Fort Kearny Genealogy Society and Kearney Kidney Foundation. She lived her faith by gathering in her family and friends. She was a gracious host and a fantastic cook. She organized her family reunions for over 60 years and also organized reunions for Ravenna High School and her college sorority. After her children were out of grade school she worked at Buffalo County Extension as a secretary. An early adopter of computers and word processing, she helped manage preparations and the chaos that is the County Fair, retiring after 19 years of service. Her love was expressed in the hundreds of greeting cards she sent to dear ones each year, and the advent of email correspondence was welcomed. She passionately researched genealogy on her and Alan’s families. She led the effort to record and document the service of female veterans in Buffalo County- compiling Women in the Military collections. She named two well-known locations here in Kearney. She submitted the name of her favorite professor, Calvin T. Ryan, for the new campus library in 1963, and named Apollo Park. Joyce served throughout her life without the need for public accolades. She had many accomplishments, yet you would never hear her promoting herself or seeking attention. Her most cherished roles were Wife, Mom and Nana. Joyce loved her family and showered them with unconditional love and support. She passed on to them her Catholic faith, love of family, sense of humor, adventurous spirit, dedication, and generosity. Survived by daughters Katherine ‘Katie’ Wink, Lincoln, NE; Carol Wink (Scott Schurman), Tulsa, OK; and Joanie (Fernando) Valenciano, Englewood CO. Grandson Joseph Schurman. Proceeded in death by husband Al, parents, siblings Bess (Pat) Cronin, Frances (Bob) Wiseman, Jack (Reva) Psota, Clara Mae (Duane) Ewer, Wilma (Don) Keaschall; in laws Emmett (Doris) Wink, Linus (Donna) Wink, Jerry Wink, Margaret ‘Peg’ (Al) Brass, Evelyn (Si) Danczak, Alice Wink, John Wink, Mary Lou (Jack) O’Brien. Memorials are suggested to St. James Catholic Church, Kearney Catholic High School Foundation, or the Servants of Mary- Omaha.

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Helen "Joyce" Wink

February 11, 1931 - May 15, 2024