Joyce Elaine (Arends) Pogge, 86, of Kanawha, peacefully passed away on June 9, 2026, at Kanawha Community Home, surrounded by her loved ones.

A celebration of Joyce Pogge’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 20, 2026, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 206 Gillespie Street, Renwick, Iowa. She will be laid to rest at Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha.

Visitation will be held on June 19, 2026, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East Second Street, Kanawha, Iowa and will continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Joyce was born on July 3, 1939, on her family’s farm near Kanawha to Richard and Jennie (Veldhouse) Arends. She grew up near Kanawha, attending local schools, and was baptized and confirmed at the Kanawha United Methodist Church.

On her birthday, July 3, 1955, she married Kenneth Pogge. Together, they created a beautiful life in the Renwick area, working side by side on their homestead. Joyce was blessed with four children: Katherine Dawn, Lori Jayne, Robin Lynn, and Jay Alan. Joyce and Kenneth shared 57 wonderful years of marriage before Kenneth’s passing in 2012.

Joyce was the heart of her family—a loving wife, devoted mother, proud grandmother, adoring great-grandmother, caring sister, and treasured friend. She poured her love into her home, joyfully caring for her children and grandchildren, cooking and baking their favorites, decorating for the holidays, and helping with farm chores. Her faith remained a constant source of guidance throughout her life; she enjoyed church circle, quilting, and sharing coffee and conversation with friends. As a co-founder of the Ruth Circle, she found joy in her community. Joyce loved shopping and was known for always looking her best, with a stylish outfit and neatly done hair. Though her greatest happiness was spending time with her family, especially during holidays when she lovingly prepared Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinners for everyone she cherished. Joyce and Kenneth enjoyed trips to the Iowa State Fair, Texas, Arizona, and especially Branson, Missouri, creating lasting memories.

Those who will forever cherish her memory include her three children, Kathy Olmstead of Clarion, Lori (Jeff) Jones of Kanawha, and Jay (Daphne) Pogge of Kanawha; her eight grandchildren, Amy (Troy) Dannen, Bryan (Kim) Olmstead, Krista (Tony) Seibert, Jonathan (Neely) Jones, Jennifer (Lee) Hefty, Ashley (Sam) Riesenberg, Lindsey (Staaci Gorgas) Pogge, and Zachary (Katie) Pogge; and her fifteen great-grandchildren, Elle and William Dannen, Maridawn, Daisey, and Hank Jones, Jillian, Beckham, and Delaney Olmstead, Violet and Evie Hefty, Wallace Seibert, Kensley Riesenberg, Audrey Gorgas, and Eliza and Saila Pogge. She is also survived by her sister, Dawn Zeigler; two sisters-in-law, Loraine Pogge and Linda Metzger; one brother-in-law, Fred Metzger; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends who loved her dearly.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; her parents, Richard and Jennie Arends; her infant daughter, Robin Lynn; her infant grandson, Nicholas Jay Pogge; her son-in-law, Ron Olmstead; her sisters-in-law, Marcene Mueller, Rena Pogge, and LaVonne Pogge; and her brothers-in-law, Ewald Mueller, Chris Pogge, Henry Pogge, John Pogge, and Lyle Zeigler.

The Pogge Family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the caring teams at Kanawha Community Home and St. Croix Hospice, whose support made Joyce’s journey with Lewy Body Dementia both dignified and compassionate.