Joyce Darlene Pfeifer

Joyce Darlene (Kamrath) Pfeifer, 88, long-time resident of Wilson Avenue in Fort Atkinson was called home to be with her Savior while in her residence on March 16. Oldest daughter of Robert and Mary Kamrath, she was born on November 28, 1936, and baptized on January 17, 1937, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Fort Atkinson. After her primary school years in the Fort Atkinson Public Schools, she attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Fort Atkinson and was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on April 2, 1950, where she was a life-long member. She later graduated from Fort Atkinson High School in 1954. 

While still in high school she was introduced to Floyd David Pfeifer of Helenville through a letter in the mail while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War era. They later began dating while he was home on furlough, and a few months later received an engagement ring also through the mail. They were united in marriage on June 2, 1956, a marriage that lasted 66 years until his death in 2023. Their union was blessed with five children: Gene (Carrie), Gregg (Sherry), Gary, Gerry (Kara), and Lori Sue (Chuck) Miller. She has eight grandchildren: Jesse (Naomi), Nicole, Jordan, Sam (Sarah), Aaron (Danielle), Cory, Jamey, and Hannah Pfeifer, and two step grandchildren Emily and Matt Miller. Joyce also has eight great-grandchildren: Makinley, Aurbree, Radley, Cecilia, Joey, Margaret Joyce, Bradley, and MaryLouise Pfeifer. 

While Floyd worked for forty years at Jones Dairy Farm, Joyce took on various jobs over the years to help support her family and provide for children’s Christian education. Among her many roles she drove a morning school bus route for St. Paul’s Lutheran School, worked at Riverside Florist and Greenhouse on Riverside Drive in Fort Atkinson, was the overnight emergency room receptionist at Fort Hospital, and in 1978 received her Emergency Medical Technician certification and for many years worked for Kutz Ambulance filling a variety of day, evening, and weekend shifts as an EMT which often required her answering emergency pager calls that took her away from family dinners.     

Joyce was also active in her church serving for many years on the Evening Altar Guild and assisting her husband with the Men’s Club serving Easter pancake breakfasts and brat fries. 

Joyce’s greatest joy was actively supporting her children in their many and varied school sporting and musical events. She and her husband rarely missed a game or event, which led to her enjoyment later in life watching many sporting events on television. 

Joyce is survived by her children and their families, her twin brothers Jerry (Sherry Joe) and Jim (Phyllis) Kamrath, sister Judy (Bruce), brother-in-law Richard (Shirley) Pfeifer, sisters-in-law Arlene Borchardt and Sharon (Randy) Reuhl, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, husband, two infant granddaughters, Margaret and Cecily, brothers-in-law, and other relatives. 

Joyce’s funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 301 S. High Street, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Friends may call at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Helenville, Wisconsin after the luncheon at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, if one desires, memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Lakeside Lutheran High School, or Bethany Lutheran College. 

The family would like to thank her friends and neighbors for checking in on her and for assisting her in maintaining her home. 

Blessed be her memory.