Dwight Thurman Joy was born to John Herman Joy and June Wilkie Chapman Mackey Joy, December 7, 1938, in Union Township, in Lucas County Iowa, joining an older sister, Dixie Joy McKay, in the family. Dwight passed away in Hartselle, Alabama on Sunday, March 24, 2019.
Dwight was baptized at the Christian Church in Humeston, Iowa on February 4, 1951, at the age of 12 and remained a member of that church as long as it existed. He and Jean attended the Humeston Baptist Church, until, when they moved to Alabama in 2011. He graduated from Humeston High School in 1956.
On September 20, 1961, Dwight married Norma Jean Flood at the Christian Church in Allerton, Iowa. To this union, two sons were born, James Lee Joy and Jack David Joy.
Dwight was a life long farmer in Lucas County, from 1959 to 2007, when he retired from farming. Dwight and Jean lived on the home place farm until 1987, when they moved into Humeston to the big house built in 1900. Dwight and Jean purchased the home in 1986, living there almost 25 years before moving to Hartselle, Alabama in 2011.
Dwight served on the Iowa Soybean Promotion board for three terms, which was a total of nine years. He served as treasurer of the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board and was the head of the Budget Committee for five years. Dwight served on the Research Committee at Iowa State University, for the Soybean Promotion Board, serving as the head of the committee for two of the five years. Dwight also served one term of voting delegate of the Lucas County Farm Bureau. Dwight was a seed salesman for Asgrow Seed Company for many years, as well as a full time farmer of crops, corn, soybean and livestock.
Dwight enjoyed writing many Letters to the Editor in the Des Moines Register and the local Lucas County newspaper on current issues that he felt very strongly about. He has always enjoyed reading massive amounts on all current issues and events as well as history.
He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife of 57 years, Jean; his sons, Dr. James L. Joy and wife, Carolyn Joy, and Jack D. Joy and wife, Lisa Joy; and grandchildren, Ryan Joy and wife, Hannah Joy, and great granddaughter, Remington Jade Joy, Rebecca Joy, Emily Joy and Laura Joy; his sister, Dixie McKay, along with a host of many other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 6:30PM at Peck Funeral Home in Hartselle, Alabama. Visitation will be from 5:30PM to 6:30PM at the funeral home. A memorial service will be held in Iowa in July with a date and location to be announced later.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, P.O. Box 2745, Decatur, Alabama 35602.
