Reverend Joy Eldon Eisenhauer

     Reverend Joy Eldon Eisenhauer, 86, of Fish Creek, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at the Jack and Engrid Meng Residence in De Pere.

     Joy was born December 16, 1936, son of the late Fred Henry Eisenhauer and Ida Katherine Steinkuhler at their farmhouse in rural Otoe County, Nebraska. He attended two 1-room schools, grades 1-8. He spent his high school years in Burr, Nebraska, population of 96, graduating in 1954 in a class of 8, the largest class at that time.

     At the insistence of his mother, he entered Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, graduating in 1958. Continuing with a theological education, he went to Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree.

     Several summers during the Seminary years were spent in Boy Scout camps as Chaplain in Wisconsin and California. He spent one year interning at Norway Lutheran Church in Wind Lake, Wisconsin.

     Joy accepted a one-year position at a Mission Seminary in Bavaria, Germany, helping prospective students going to Papua New Guinea with conversational English. While in Germany, he received a call to be Pastor at First American Lutheran Church in Hobart, Oklahoma. He was then called to his home church, Hope Lutheran in Burr, Nebraska in September 1963, serving there for six years. He went on to minister at Peace Lutheran in Joplin, Missouri in the fall of 1969, where he served for 7 ½ years. Next, he went onto American Lutheran in Grand Junction, Colorado, retiring as Senior Pastor at the end of 2000.

     Joy and Betty married in 2015 and moved to Door County, Wisconsin, where he volunteered as Assisting Minister at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Juddville.

     Joy loved to golf and was an avid bicyclist and puzzler. He enjoyed several mission trips to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. He was an active member of St. Paul’s Men’s Bible Study. Joy spent many hours gardening and loved walking, enjoying the outdoors.

     Joy is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Betty; stepson, Nathan (Teri) VanDyke; step grandchildren, Chase and Gabrielle of Franklin, WI; and stepdaughters, Candace (Preston) Masquelier of Fay, OK and Janita Kay (Willie) Gahman of Montrose, CO. He will be fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews.

     Joy is preceded in death by his former wives, Wooddora Eisenhauer of Hobart and Joplin, MO and Viki Simmons of Grand Junction, CO and Cathage, MO; sisters, Lucille Panko of Verdigree, NE, Iona Pieper of Lincoln, NE, and Mavis Mohlman (Dick) of Waverly, NE; and brother, Delton (LouAnn) of Lincoln, NE.

     Betty wishes to sincerely thank the staff at the Jack and Engrid Meng Residence for their compassionate and loving care and support during this difficult time.

     A prayer service will be held in Joy’s honor at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4167 Juddville Road, Fish Creek, on Friday July 28th at 1:00 p.m.

     In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Joy’s name can be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.

     Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC of Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Eisenhauer family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Joy may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

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