Joyce Davidson Giebel

Joyce Giebel, age 85 of Appleton, passed away at her home, surrounded by her family, on March 20, 2022.  She was born January 9 of 1937, daughter of the late Charles R. and Lucille (Horn) Davidson.  She met the love of her life, Frank “Leo” Giebel in 1952 at the Brin Theater.  He was a student at Neenah High School and she at Menasha.  Together they enjoyed attending movies and park dances.  They married in 1956 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Appleton. 

She and Leo had fun-filled and exciting lives.  There was no challenge that Joyce wasn’t up for.  She will be remembered for riding an elephant and an ostrich at a county fair.  She was an award-winning stock car driver, attended several Indy 500 races, loved to shoot trap, go bowling, and camping with friends and family.  Joyce designed macrame lawn chairs.  She made a “Tweety Bird” for Alicia and an “M & M” for Resa – those designs were her favorites.  Her own chair was “Timber”, after the family dog.  She was also a seamstress, making dresses, sweaters, vests, and even curtains. 

It was rare to see one of them without the other.  They did everything together, and today they are together again in heaven.  They hunted antelope in Wyoming and took trips to Mexico and Las Vegas until Joyce began to have trouble walking.   

Survivors include three children: Scott (Christine) Giebel, Stacy (Rick) Bengel, and Sanci (Carl) Laabs; seven grandchildren: Alex (Rachelle) Giebel, Austin Giebel, Aaron Bengel, Alicia (Beau) Higgins, Emma Laabs, Roni Laabs, and Resa (Tanner) Thomas.   The great-grandchildren are Remington, Chase, Lucas, Charlie, and Baby Thomas coming soon.  Other survivors include her brother: LeRoy “Doc” (Jean) Davidson and her in-laws: Melvin (Sandy) Giebel, and her adopted daughter Melanie (Hopie) Burkhart; her Godchildren: Keith Giebel, Jeff Giebel, Patti Dorshorst, and Resa Laabs, as well as aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and many cousins. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2015, a granddaughter Clare Laabs in 1993 and a grandson Adam in 2021. 

The Christian Funeral Service for Joyce will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, located at 302 N. Morrison Street in Appleton, with Rev, Kenneth Frey officiating.  Interment will be at Highland Memorial Park.  Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the church on Thursday morning from 9:00 AM until the time of the service.