Joyce Heaser

Joyce J. (Chadwick) Heaser passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at Family Roots Eldercare, Plainview, Minnesota, after a lengthy illness with Lewy Body Dementia. Family members were by her side as she crossed over to meet her saving Lord and reunite with family members who passed before her and who were without doubt eager to welcome her home - especially her husband Fred. She was born May 19, 1936, in Wabasha, Minnesota to Arthur and Isabelle (Goulette) Chadwick.

Joyce had an adventurous life. At the age of three years, she moved to Madison, Wisconsin to live with her Aunt Millie and Uncle Oscar until she was six years old at which time she returned to her family in Wabasha. She attended Elementary School there until the age of 13 when her mother passed away. During those years, Joyce talked very often about the special memories she had helping her mother provide daycare services and housekeeping to others in the Wabasha community. After her mother's passing, she moved to Red Wing, Minnesota to live for a time with her Aunt Bessie and Uncle Lenus, who was Sheriff at the county jail. She would often reminisce about Uncle Lenus allowing her to have slumber parties in the jailhouse when it was empty of "residents". She attended school in Red Wing for two years and was actively involved in many activities, among her favorite was being a baton twirler for the HS band. At the age of 15, she returned home to help her father. She attended Wabasha High School for a few years and at the age of 17, met the love of her life, Fred A. Heaser, Jr. They dated for a brief time, until Joyce was invited by friends to move to Arkansas. She lived there for one year, but returned to Wabasha where she struck up her romance again with Fred.

On February 4, 1956, the two were married at St. Joachim's Catholic Church, Plainview, MN, and they celebrated 61 years of marriage before Fred passed away in September 2017. They lived most of their lives in Plainview and together became devoted parents of five children.

Joyce was a member of Saint Joachim's Catholic Church, Plainview, Minnesota, for over 69 years, having converted to Catholicism in her early twenties. She loved the Lord God with her whole being and taught her children the same. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court #497, a lifetime member of the VFW, Wabasha, MN, a lifetime member of the Legion Auxiliary, Plainview, MN, and a Charter Member of the Plainview Trackbackers Booster Club. Joyce was the concession stand manager at all the home track and field meets for over 20 years and was known far and wide for her legendary homemade comfort foods - including her famous potato salad, pasta salad, barbeques, and goulash. Being the caretaker she was, she also made sure no one ever went hungry at away track & field meets and always packed egg salad, potato salad, and pickle and bologna sandwiches to share with athletes and fans alike. They always sought her out for a sandwich and conversation.

Joyce enjoyed cooking, gardening and yard work, and weekend road trips with husband Fred and their dearest friends. She loved pull tabs, auctions, and garage sales - both having them and going to them - often finding special and rare items she could repurpose. She collected dolls of all sizes and kinds, eventually owning over 500 of them. She adored babies and children and right up to the very end of her life, the presence of them brought her immense joy as she often would share how very special they were to her.

She held various jobs throughout her life, including at Bates Variety Store, Plainview, Lakeside Packing Company, Plainview, and Mary's Dairy Café, Plainview. But the job she is most proud of and loved the most was being a homemaker and mother to her five children and being able to provide daycare to several of her grandchildren for many years. She said her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her greatest blessing and achievement. She had a great faith filled life and devotion to God and taught her children to live the same. She was always ready and willing to offer up prayer for anyone who needed it, especially her children. She was her children's biggest cheerleader.

Joyce is survived by her five children, Steven Heaser (Plainview), Barbara Heaser (Rochester), Jeannie (Ike) Speedling (Plainview), Tricia (Bruce) Iverson, Elgin, and Jackie (Steve) Mercer, Charles City, IA; Nine grandchildren, Ryan (Claire) Speedling, Plainview, Amanda (Joshua Steffen) Speedling, Elgin, Andrew (Anna Spaeth) Speedling, Plainview, Chantel Walters, Kellogg, Courtney (Michael) Fenton, Plainview, Justin Iverson, Kellogg, Emily (Tyler) Petit, Holmen, WI, Stephanie Mercer, Floyd, IA, Cody (Autumn) Mercer, Charles City, IA; Fourteen great grandchildren: Lawson, Mariah & Lauren Speedling, Reese Speedling, Kinsley, Natalie & Rhett Steffen, Isabella, Jaxon & Xavier Fenton, Lily & Russell Iverson, Hazel Mercer & Asher Mercer. In addition, one sister, Rosalie (Anthony) Roozen, Bremerton, Washington, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Fred A. Heaser, an infant son, Michael, her mother and father, an infant brother, Thomas, three sisters and their husbands, Betty J. Goulette (Edward) Mattes, Gladys (Richard) Krusmark, Florence (Lester) Polyard, three brothers and their wives, Arthur Jr. (Dorothy) Chadwick, Irvin Chadwick, and Terry (Kristi Roppe) Chadwick.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 5-7 p.m., at Schad & Zabel Funeral Home (57 3rd Street SW, Plainview, MN 55964). A funeral service for Joyce will be Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 11 a.m., at St. Joachim's Catholic Church (900 W Broadway, Plainview, MN 55964) with Father Tojy Jose officiating; visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow in the St. Joachim's Catholic Cemetery in Plainview. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the following good causes: Mayo Clinic Rochester (Minnesota) - Alzheimer's/Lewy Body Dementia Clinical Research or St. Joachim's Catholic Church (Plainview, Minnesota) Cemetery Fund

Joyce's family would like to gratefully thank Caily Brookins, owner of Family Roots Eldercare, and her staff, Brittney, McKenna, Grace, Kadence, Johanna, MaKenna & Alise, for their caring devotion to Joyce during the past two and half years that she lived at Family Roots. The kindness showed to Joyce and her family during her residency can never be repaid enough - and especially at the end of Joyce's life. You gave her grace, dignity, joy and love and she loved you all back so very much. We are eternally indebted to you all.

We would also like to thank Seasons Hospice (especially Daniella, Britney, Shea, Cory & Erin) for the excellent care they provided to Joyce and family during the past nine months. You helped ease Joyce's fears and gave her great comfort and we cannot express enough appreciation for you all.