Joyce Bawek

Private family Mass of Christian Burial for Joyce Bawek, 90, of Conde will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 1st at Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.  Father Tom Hartman will officiate.  Services will be broadcast live on GDILIVE.COM and will also be broadcast on GDIRADIO at 89.3 FM, available within 1 mile of Groton.  Inurnment will follow in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Conde under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Private visitation will be held for one hour prior to services on Tuesday.  Masks are encouraged and will be available. 

Joyce passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 25, 2020, at her home in Conde surrounded by her family. 

Joyce Darlene Nehls was born November 12, 1930, to John and Stella (Simpson) Nehls in Ferney, South Dakota. She grew up in Ferney, where she worked on the family farm with her parents and attended country school. She graduated from Groton High school in 1949.  

Joyce was united in marriage with Morris Bawek on July 18, 1949, in Conde. Together, they raised 7 children. They made their home in various places before settling down in 1955, when they moved to Grenville. There, they opened and ran a gas station together, and she also worked as Sub-Postmaster. They eventually bought into a gravel business, and in 1974, the family moved to Conde to operate Bawek Construction, for which Joyce was the bookkeeper. Later, she was employed at the Conde School, where she spent 13 years working as a paraprofessional. Some of her hobbies included sewing, jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, word searches, bird watching, tending to her beautiful flowers, as well as meeting and holding her grand babies and great-grandbabies. 

Joyce was a member of both the St. Joesph Catholic Church in Grenville and St. John’s Catholic Church in Conde, both of which she served on the Altar Society. She was a member of the Conde City Board for many years. Joyce was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was a fabulous cook and hostess. She was known for her kind heart and warm personality by everyone who knew her. She was always a listening ear and comfort to all who needed it. 

Celebrating her life through memories are her children: Brenda (George) Snaza of Bridgewater, SD; Pam Monson of Aberdeen, SD; Barry (Deanna) Bawek of Conde, SD; Don (Barb) Bawek of Grenville, SD; Cindy (Curt) Haskell of Conde, SD; and Cheryl (Jim) Sayler of Aberdeen, SD; Son-ln-law Lester Lentsch of Burnsville, MN; 22 grandchildren; 42 great-grand children; 11 great-great grandchildren; brother, Lester Nehls of Groton, SD; sister, Florence Schaller of Phoenix, AZ; and her special dog Summer.  

Preceding her in death were her loving husband, Morris; parents, John and Stella Nehls; her brothers Ralph Nehls and Dick Nehls; daughter Bonnie (Bawek) Lentsch; and Grandson Isaiah Haskell along with multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren lost to miscarriages. 

Our sweet mother will be missed by all. We will forever be grateful that she was our mama and hero.   

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