Joy Faye Trunzler

My mother Joy Faye Owens Trunzler was born on October 5, 1938, to Jack and Iva Clark Owens in Alexandria Louisiana. In 1945 Jack and Iva built a home here in Harrisburg. Joy grew up in Harrisonburg and graduated from Harrisonburg high school in 1956. While in high school she played basketball on the Harrisonburg girls’ team like many young girls of her age. Joy graduated in 1960 from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology, chemistry and physics. Joy was also member of the LSU chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi an international women's fraternity founded on January 2, 1897, and also became a lifetime member of the Daughters of the American Revolution while at Louisiana State University. On December 26, 1963, Joy Faye Owens Trunzler was married to Paul A. Lemke Jr., and from that marriage had two children. During the time Joy was married to Paul Lemke, she traveled extensively around the world and lived in Boston Massachusetts, Brownsburg Indiana, Pittsburg Pennsylvania, Bochum Germany and Lafayette Alabama. Joy was a licensed real estate agent in Pennsylvania for seven years. Joy and Paul divorced in 1982 and afterwards she returned to Louisiana to live in Lafayette, Louisiana. While living in Lafayette, Joy was also an active member of the Lafayette Pilot International club. In the summer of 1984 Joy Faye Owens Trunzler returned to live in Harrisonburg and began working for the State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Community Services as a child abuse investigator. Joy continued to work in that office until her retirement and during her tenure had a positive impact of the lives of countless children in both Catahoula and Concordia Parishes. On December 21, 1985, Joy Faye Owens Trunzler married Dr. Basil G. Trunzler IV and moved to Vidalia, Louisiana. In 1993 joy and Basil decided to move back to Harrisonburg and built a home where the both lived for the rest of their lives. In 2004, Joy retired from State employment. Joy was active for many years after her retirement as a volunteer at the CARA center in Jonesville where she continued her service to helping those in need. Joy converted to Catholicism when she married her first husband Paul A. Lemke and was active in all the churches she attended throughout her life. Upon her death, Joy was a member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Jena, Louisiana. Joy was also a devoted LSU fan who loved her team, was addicted to discount stores and could never pass up a yard sale. Joy Faye Owens Trunzler was well named by her parents as she truly brought joy to the lives of others in everything she did. Joy will be greatly missed by her friends and family and the world is diminished by her passing. Joy Faye Owens Trunzler passed from this world on November 27, 2019 and was preceded in death by her parents Jack F. Owens Sr. and Iva Clark Owens, her husband of 27 years Basil G Trunzler IV, and her beloved nephew T-jack Owens. Joy Faye Owens Trunzler is survived by her two children Anne Lemke Head and Paul A Lemke III, her brother Jack F Owens Jr., her grandchildren Ava Diamond and Weston Diamond, Step-grandchildren Jackson Head and Kendall Head, her nieces Tia Powers and Leah Tiffee, her nephew Zachery Owens, her son-in-law Ken Head and finally her beloved Maltese Mia. Service information will be as follows: There will be a Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Joy Faye Owens Trunzler at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Jena, Louisiana with the Rev. Jason Gootee officiating. A graveside service and burial will follow at Harrisonburg Cemetery in Harrisonburg, Louisiana. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019, at Young’s Funeral Home in Jonesville, Louisiana. Everyone is invited to the visitation and attend the mass service. The family wishes to thank Shirley Barnes who lived with Joy during her last few years and assisted her in many daily needs. Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Oliphant, Jackie Owens, Daryl Floyd, Ken Head, Jackson Head and Zachary Owens. In lieu of flowers, Joy asked that you make memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, by mail to 501 St. Jude Plaza, Memphis, TN 38105. Donate by phone at (800) 805-5856 or go to http://www.stjude.org/donate.

Joy Faye Trunzler

October 5, 1938 - November 27, 2019