Obituary of Joyce L. Schurman

SCHURMAN JOYCE

Joyce Schurman, age 85 of Yankton, SD passed away early Wednesday, November 06, 2024 at Avera Sister James Care Center under hospice care in Yankton, SD.  Memorial services will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, November 16, 2024 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel, Yankton, SD with Rev. Darin Schmidt officiating.  The burial of her cremated remains will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD.  The visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.  Live streaming of Joyce’s service can be found at: https://app.attend.live/viewer/embed?video=true&idEvent=o2OrY.

Joyce Louise (Slagle) Schurman was born March 28, 1939, on a farm in St. Helena, NE.  to Louise (Kast) and David Slagle Sr. The family moved to Meckling, SD shortly after she was born.  She attended McFarland Country School in Volin, SD. She graduated eighth grade from District 3 Norway in 1954. She attended her first few years of high school in Vermillion then graduated from Beresford High School in 1957, in Beresford, SD. She moved to Yankton in 1958 where she started working at Red Owl Grocery store, she then worked over the years at Sacred Heart Hospital, McEvoy’s, Shriver’s, TG&Y, Spurgeon’s, and Sacred Heart Monastery until her retirement. She especially enjoyed being a Benedictine Oblate.

On August 14, 1962, she married James Charles Schurman in Yankton, SD. They were married for 33 years before James’ death on July 5, 1996.  She was a stay-at-home mom and raised five daughters. While the girls were growing up, she babysat for many families.

She is survived by her daughters Michele (Steve) Gustad, of Volin, SD.; Brenda Lee (Steven) Willcuts of Yankton, SD.; Laurie (Mike) Pieper of Yankton, SD.; Lynette (Randy) Steffen of Yankton, SD.; Cathy (Kevin) Cap of Houston, TX. 13 Grandchildren; 30 Great-Grandchildren; sisters Gladys Weeks, Minot, ND.; Jan (Gene) Paetow, Sioux Falls, SD.; Cathie (Mike) Merlino, Canon City, CO.; brother David Jr. (Nora) Slagle, Las Vegas, NV.; sister-in law Darlene Slagle, Yankton, SD and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her husband James, parents David Sr.  and Louise Slagle; grandchildren Christian and Jaimie Steffen; brother Marlin Slagle; brother-in-law Lyle “Bill” Weeks.