Joyce Lauridsen

Joyce Lauridsen, age 53, of Ames, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames after a long, courageous battle with Ovarian Cancer. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at the Gilbert High School Auditorium in Gilbert, Iowa with Pastor Terry DeZonia of Christ Community Church in Ames officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 -7 P.M. on Friday evening at the Gilbert High School Auditorium. Graveside services will be held at 3:30 P.M. on Saturday at the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery near Glidden. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to the Iowa Chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), and designated for the “Joyce’s Jokers” team and may be left at the visitation or the funeral service. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com. Joyce was born September 2, 1961 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Merle and Donna (Meiners) Bruggeman. She graduated from Carroll High School in 1979. On July 17, 1982 she married John Lauridsen and moved to the Ames area. The couple was blessed with three sons, Jay, Jeffrey and Jeremy. Joyce will be remembered by those who knew her as having a true passion for serving others. In her 20 year career with the Gilbert schools, to many, Joyce became known as the ‘face’ and ‘voice’ of the elementary school. Often, she was the first point of contact for new families in the district and made everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. Joyce was a co-founder and long-serving board member of the Heart of Iowa Soccer Club, and a soccer mom to many. Whether she was running a concession stand, driving a bus for a Gilbert athletic team or helping to build a playground, Joyce always found a way to make a positive impact in the community. Joyce’s dedication, energy, compassion and humor will be missed by so many. Joyce is survived by her husband John Lauridsen of Ames, sons Jay Lauridsen of West Des Moines, Jeffrey Lauridsen (Rebekha) of Des Moines, Jeremy Lauridsen of Urbandale, mother Donna Bruggeman of Glidden, brothers Ron Bruggeman (Glenda) of Guthrie Center and Larry Bruggeman (Natalie) of Glidden. She was preceded in death by her father Merle Bruggeman.