Joyce Irene Holtz passed away on June 2, 2026, at the age of 91 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She was born on January 17, 1935, in Indiana to the late Alfred and Almeda Schroeder. She is the wife of the late George Robert Holtz Sr., who passed away on October 18, 2008.
Joyce was a woman who found joy in the work of her hands and in the company of those she loved. She had a special gift for making a home feel welcoming and alive, and she carried that gift with her throughout her life. Her days were often spent outdoors, where she felt most at peace. Gardening was one of her greatest pleasures, and she especially loved tending to her plantings without gloves on, believing that the nails and the skin needed to feel the soil and that the dirt helped her nails to grow!
Her love of the outdoors extended well beyond the garden. Joyce was an avid equestrian who especially enjoyed barrel racing and trail riding. She embraced the freedom and spirit that came with being around horses, and those experiences brought her great happiness over the years. Joyce and George never missed a good flea market, inspiring the rest of the family to join in on the adventure. She also loved camping, which led her to be Brock’s den mother in Cub Scouts, traveling, and mini farming. Her hands, so often busy in the garden or on horseback, also brought beauty into the world through painting, knitting, and canning. She was a proud member of Gurnee 4H and Lake County Posse.
Above all else, Joyce cherished her family. She found her greatest happiness in spending time with the people she loved, and her presence brought comfort, laughter, and strength to those around her. She is survived by her son, Brock E. Holtz and his wife, Tamara; her grandchildren, Andrea Holtz and her husband, Chris Rekenthaler, Erin Holtz and her husband, Mitchell Vos, Gene Holtz, Gretchen Geiken, Gayle Lester, and Gwen Holtz; and her great-grandchildren, Preston Siminovic, Everett Vos, and Mazie Vos. She is also survived by her brothers, Ronald Schroeder and Ernie Schroeder, and she was preceded in death by her stepson, George R Holtz Jr., and brothers Albert Schroeder, Phillip Schroeder, and Carl Schroeder, as well as her sisters Shirley Todd and Arlene Bivens. Also survived by a niece, Cathy Cramer, and a great-nephew, Cody Cramer.
A time to gather and visit to remember Joyce will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM at Schuette Daniels Funeral Home, 625 Browns Lake Dr., Burlington, Wisconsin.
Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory
625 S. Browns Lake Drive
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 763-3434
www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com
