Joyce Schnell

Joyce L. Schnell, 82, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008 in Oakview, Calif.

Joyce was born on Dec. 28, 1925, in Dickinson, to Ed and Tekla Kronschnabel, and was raised and educated in Killdeer.

While in high school, she met her husband, Howard Schnell. Joyce and Howard married in 1944 in Sioux City, Iowa, where Howard was serving in the United States Army. They soon returned to Dickinson where Joyce concentrated on raising their children as Howard began his auctioneering career.

In 1955, Howard passed away in an airplane accident and Joyce continued as mother and homemaker to their five children. In 1975, she moved to Santa Maria, Calif., where she lived for more than 30 years. She began to suffer from Alzheimer’s in her later years and subsequently moved to Autumn Years of Ojai Valley, a wonderful, compassionate Alzheimer’s facility, where she received loving care for the last year and a half of her life.

Joyce is survived by her sons, Jim Schnell and his wife, Andrea, Orinda, Calif., and Dan Schnell and his wife, Mary, Vida, Ore.; daughter, Deborah (Schnell) Van Dyke and her husband, Will, Santa Barbara, Calif.; brother, George Kronschnabel and his wife, Marge, Casper, Wyo.; sister, Carol Iverson and her husband, Sonny, Kellogg, Minn.; five grandchildren, Wesley Schnell, Betty Ann Field, Ryan Schnell, Ben Pirkl and Kate Van Dyke; as well as five great grandchildren, Katie and Trevor Field, Taylor, Adam and Dylan Pirkl.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Schnell; son, David Schnell and daughter, Laurie Schnell.

Private interment was held in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Dickinson, where Joyce was laid to rest next to her husband, Howard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joyce’s name to her favorite charity, the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, Va., 22312.

Arrangements are in the care of Magner-Maloney Funeral Home and Crematory in Santa Maria, Calif., and by Stevenson Funeral Home in Dickinson.