Joyce M. Tholstrup
Joyce M. Tholstrup of Concordia, Kansas, passed away December 16, 2023, in Topeka, Kansas, surrounded by loved ones. She was born June 16, 1951, the youngest of three, to Loren and Geneva (Wagner) Cyr of Ames, Kansas. She lived her early years in Ames and graduated from Clyde Rural High School in 1969. She was employed for several years by the Elk State Bank of Clyde, Kansas, until the birth of her first son.
She was married May 14, 1971, to Leroy D. Tholstrup of Concordia, where they would spend their married life. Their enduring love spanned 52 years of marriage, blessed with three children: Jeff Tholstrup (Crystal) of Concordia, Jennifer Kuckelman (Daniel) of Berryton, Kan., and Jason Tholstrup of Sunnyvale, Calif., all of whom survive her. Family was everything to Joyce. She was the loving grandmother to Trenton Tholstrup (Allison) of Wichita, Kan., Trevor Tholstrup (Alexis) of Aurora, Kan., Jace and Carson Tholstrup of Concordia, Caden and Grayson Kuckelman of Berryton, Devan O’Neil (Felicia) of Superior, Neb., and Bradley Mann of Grand Island, Neb. She was also great-grandmother to Raegan Tholstrup and Kash and Kinzlee O’Neil. They all will miss her warm greetings, delicious cooking, unconditional support, and love of playing board games and cards with them all hours of the night. Other survivors include her sister, Janet Cyr, Overland Park, Kan.; brother, Kenneth Cyr, Concordia; sister-in-law, Betty Roberts (Randy), Lebanon, Mo., as well as her nieces and nephews.
She was devoted to her family, creating a lifetime of happy memories associated with the many family gatherings she planned and orchestrated. It was never a question of where the family would celebrate any of the annual holidays, be it Christmas, Easter, the 4th of July, birthdays, or Thanksgiving; the Tholstrup residence, with Joyce in charge, was always hosting!
Joyce was deeply woven into the fabric of Concordia where she and Leroy managed the Concordia American Legion for 53 years and the Concordia golf course for 10 years. She cooked, served, and decorated for an untold number of major life events in the community. Brides smooshed Joyce’s cakes into their new husband’s faces and couples of all ages danced under her decorations for holidays and celebrations.
Joyce will be remembered fondly and deeply missed; not only by her family, but by a myriad of friends, many from childhood. She was always ready for an adventure, such as her annual summer road trips with her sister and friends, an overnight trip to the Casino, or simply a luncheon or a birthday celebration with the girls (and one of her famous cakes), not to mention seeing just about every movie that came to Concordia. Her life was characterized by her commitment to making life better for those she held dear.
Visitation will be held from 1-8 p.m., Thursday, December 21, 2023, at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, December 22, 2023, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Concordia, Kansas, with Fr. Joseph Kieffer officiating. Inurnment will take place in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia, Kansas.
The family suggests memorials to American Legion Post #76 Children and Youth in care of Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, PO Box 606, Concordia, KS 66901.