Joy D. Burns

Joy Delouise (Lathrop) Burns, 77, died unexpectedly and went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 22, 2018. She peacefully stepped onto the shores of eternity where she met her Lord and Savior face to face. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, April 28th, at Faith Baptist Church, 1807 S. Kentucky Avenue, Mason City, Iowa.

Joy was born on May 10, 1940, the first daughter of Glenn and Della Lathrop in Fairfield, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” R. Burns, Jr., on April 14, 1962.

Joy’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was of utmost importance in her life. She loved her family and considered time spent with them one of her greatest joys. She found pleasure in the beauty of nature and simple things around her. She loved life and was often caught playing pranks or jokes on those around her. Her laughter was contagious. She enjoyed sewing, making quilts and her love of books was exceptional. She loved to read and has a personal library of many books but her favorite book was her Bible. Her life was filled with love, faith and compassion. She truly lived up to the spirit of her name – Joy!

As a young woman she worked as a waitress and met her husband-to-be when he came into the restaurant to secure a date for his friend. But instead, the two of them hit it off from the start. She was a full-time wife and mother and later worked as a nursing assistant in the local Pediatrics medical clinic. She was her husband, Bob’s, right hand man in his land surveying business. She worked in other various capacities throughout her life like a receptionist at a hotel chain and a security guard for a meat packing plant to name a few. At the time of her death she was gainfully employed as an assistant to her daughter, Vicki Hearn, who manages the Westside Manor Apartments. She assisted in the office and also did physical labor on preparing apartments for move-ins at the amazing spry age of 77. Joy was very active in their church until the death of her husband, Bob. She helped to form and teach bi-weekly Bible studies in her home. She studied her Bible daily and was a prayer warrior on behalf of her family and friends. What a privilege to know and learn from this powerful woman of God!

Joy had four children – two daughters, Virginia “Ginny” Kruger (husband: Terry), Victoria “Vicki” Hearn (husband: Keith), and two sons, Robert “Bob” Burns (wife: Martha, recently deceased) and Randy Burns (wife: Tammy.)

We, her family, have been blessed by God to have known her and have her as part of our lives. She is survived by her children, Ginny (Ankeny), Vicki (Mason City), Bob (Clear Lake), Randy (Sheridan, WY), one sister, Joanna Lasof (husband: Mark, Vancouver, WA) eight grand-children (Katie, Tyler, Caleb, Isaac, Kristopher, Tanya, Jennifer & Shannon), seven great-grandchildren, one nephew and two nieces.

Joy is preceded in death by both parents, Glenn & Della Lathrop, brother Miland “Bud” Lathrop, husband Robert R. Burns, Jr., daughter-in-law Martha Burns, and two great-grandchildren.