Joyce Ann Borger

Joyce Ann Borger, 85, of Lenexa, Kansas died Sept. 28, 2022, surrounded by her family.

Joyce was born Oct. 28, 1936 in Beloit, Kansas, to Earl and Ida Ruth Lawson. When she was 9 years old, her mother remarried and they moved to a farm, where she would help with the cooking and laundry, and gathering eggs from the chickens. At this time, she had to trasfer schools, where she made lifelong friends. Childhood memories involve time with the extended family on larger holidays, as well as celebrating smaller holidays, like Valentine’s Day and May Day, with her mother and sister.

Joyce enjoyed high school (where she was an “occasional troublemaker” in English class). With a small class of 16, there was strong encouragement to be involved in all of the activities. These included various singing groups, the debate team, and student council. She was a cheerleader, too, and she also played the French horn in the marching band. At halftime during football games, she would have to hurriedly change from one uniform to the other, and back again. Joyce graduated with Class 1954 from Jewell High School.

She met Dwight before he went off to college, and they were married a few weeks after their first date and moved to Manhattan, Kansas.

Joyce had many interests including history and sewing. Her Grandma Dora declared that her hand-stitching at 9 years old was “surprisingly good,” and she learned further sewing skills in high school. Her projects included making Halloween costumes for her children every year.

She enjoyed travel to Alaska, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico on cruises, as well as various trips throughout the continental US. She often had lunch with her friends and searched for new treasures at the vintage stores in the West Bottoms.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Charlotte; and her son, Darry. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Dwight Borger, daughter, Jennifer Borger, and granddaughter, Lauren.