Joyce Brever

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, Joyce Jeannine Brever, loving wife and mother of four children passed away at the age of 68 from a courageous battle with non-smoking lung cancer.

Joyce was born to Arthur and Lorraine (Smith) Trout in Staples, MN. She attended the Riverside Country School in Todd County and graduated from Staples High School in 1971. Joyce attended Itasca Community College and received a degree in Licensed Practical Nursing.

Joyce married Gerald (Jerry) Brever on December 1, 1973 at St. Isadore’s Catholic Church in Moran Township (Todd County). Joyce sacrificed her career to start raising a family until the youngest child attended school. Joyce worked in the Activity Department at the Lakewood Health System Care Center for 24 years until her retirement as Activity Coordinator in 2017.

Family was the focus of Joyce’s life. She found joy by organizing family gatherings, making arts and crafts with the kids, playing games, and watching her family participate in activities and sports. Joyce’s cooking and cake decorating was legendary, where family recipes were created and perfected. She found relaxation in reading, camping with Jerry and the kids, and making memory quilts for her children and grandchildren.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband of almost 49 years, Jerry Brever; her four children, Sheri (Darren) Holst of Staples, Scott (Courtney) of St. Joseph, Jeff of Pequot Lakes, and Chad of Browerville; her eleven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; her older sister Kathryn Pitcher and younger brother Alan Trout (RoAnn). She is preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Marvin.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11am Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at Sacred Heart Church in Staples, MN. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service. Joyce will be laid to rest at the Staples Evergreen Hill Cemetery with a luncheon to follow.