Emett Joy

Emett Berlen Joy, 83, of Humeston, Iowa, the son of Walter Berlin and Leta Marie (Perkins) Joy, was born June 10, 1937, in Decatur County, Iowa. He died at his home on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021.

Emett was born and raised in the LeRoy, Iowa area. He graduated from LeRoy School in 1955. His high school prophecy predicted him to have a zoo in LeRoy. That pretty much came true as Emett raised donkeys, goats, pigs, cows, miniature horses, chickens, turkeys, and bunnies in addition to farming. He learned to drive a tractor at age eight. When the opportunity to drive a school bus came up, he started what became a nearly 50-year job delivering children between home and school for the LeRoy School, Mormon Trail Community School, and Clarke Community School. He was drafted into the United States Army in February of 1961, and served until November of 1962, until his honorable discharge when he returned home and continued farming and bus driving.

On September 25, 1966, Emett married Charla Marlene Deemer at the Weldon United Methodist Church in Weldon, Iowa. They made LeRoy their home and were blessed with three children, Boni, Bryan, and Belinda. Emett was a bargain seeker and a classic John Deere tractor collector. He loved to attend auctions and visit with everyone. He was a 4-H member as a youth and later a 4-H leader.

Emett served the Town of LeRoy for nearly 50 years, most of those as Mayor. One day Delia Ray, a female author stopped in town and after her visit, she wrote the book, Finding Fortune, including Emett as the town mayor and his donkey, named Wayne.

Emett was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2007. He had been declining in health the past 14 years.

Preceding him in death were his parents; and his in-laws, Raymond and Darlene Deemer. Survivors include his wife, Charla Joy of Humeston, Iowa; children, Boni Rhum (Rick) of Leon, Iowa, Bryan Joy (Laura) of Weldon, Iowa, and Belinda Hyland (Charles) of Lenexa, Kansas; grandchildren, Ashley Lindsey (Kris) of Spencer, Iowa, Dalton Rhum of Norwalk, Iowa, Alyssa Rhum of Lamoni, Iowa, Nick Bly of Weldon, Kayla Joy of Weldon, C.J. Hyland of Brandon, Florida, Kirsten Hyland and Reagen Hyland, both of Lenexa, Kansas; great grandchildren, Dakoda, Jaxon, and Gavyn Lindsey; brother, Ernie Joy (Virginia) of Humeston; brother-in-law, Gareth Deemer (Connie) of Weldon; sister-in-law, Jan George (Ted) of Rockwell City, Iowa; all his school bus “kids”; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 16, 2021. Burial will be in the Humeston Cemetery, Humeston, Iowa. A visitation will be held at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home on Friday, 2-6 p.m.

Memorials to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.