Joyce LaVerne Halvorsen (Rudell) 

Joyce Rudell was born March 7, 1952, in St. James, MN to Robert and LaVerne (Chittim) Rudell.

In 1962 she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and given a short time to live.She spent the rest of her life defying the odds and finding enjoyment in every day.She graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1970 and attended Nebraska Wesleyan University. A pivotal year in Joyce’s life was 1974: she graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan with a degree in biology as well as a medical technologist designation, and she married Dave Halvorsen. Her medical career began to blossom in 1976 when she joined the Bryan Hospital open heart surgery team as a perfusionist. In 1980 Joyce and her husband Dave decided to start a family by taking legal custody of two foster children, Dennis and Jeannea, and 18 months later, adding their own son, Brandon. The next eight years Joyce focused on raising their family.She rejoined the workforce as a laboratory technician at East Lincoln Internal Medicine. Her knowledge of medicine and passion to serve others led her to the Lincoln Community Blood Bank as the director of public relations until her retirement in 2010. Joyce was always the first volunteer, and she used her gift for communicating by writing for her church and serving on several governing boards, including a local daycare, the Delta Zeta Sorority, and the Lincoln Chapter of International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

There was far more to Joyce than her career. She was a woman of unbreakable faith, and her love of the Lord was the source of her strength. No matter what challenges she faced, her reserve of positivity was inexhaustible. Her infectious laugh brightened any room she entered, and she served the Lord by willingly and joyfully helping others. She enjoyed home decorating, entertaining, traveling and encouraging others.

Joyce also was an avid sports fan, especially Husker football. She enjoyed attending home games with her father, husband, and son spanning the years from Bob Devaney through Bo Pelini. She did not hate anyone, but her feelings toward Tom Brady came very close.

Joyce went home to be with the Lord on March 4, 2022, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Dave, son Brandon (Lauren), cousin Mark Gravell of Plymouth, MN and, cousin Suzanne (Michael) Lomax of Springfield, MO.

Celebration of Life will be held on March 11, 2022, from 1-4pm at Lazlo’s Haymarket Hickory Room (second floor), 210 N 7th St.

Please send memorials to Lincoln Christian School.