Joyce (Sweetie) Holzhuter, age 92, was born on June 11th, 1933 and passed away on June 3rd, 2026.  Funeral Services will be Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at Queen of the Holy Rosary, Overland Park, KS.  The visitation will be at 9:30 followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30.  Burial to follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Topeka KS in the Hayden section. 

Joyce attended St. Joseph Grade School and Hayden High School in Topeka, KS and St. Mary College (now the University of St. Mary) in Leavenworth, KS.  She was a Sister of Charity from 1951-1975.  She taught primary grades in Catholic schools for 37 years.  During that time she was nominated for Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America in 1975, and received the Marian Joseph Farrell Award for Distinguished Teaching in Catholic Elementary Schools in 1988.  After retiring from teaching in 1990 she served as Pastoral Assistant at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Kansas City, KS for 15 years.  She retired in 2005 but stayed involved in many ministries including RCIA, work with the Tribunal, involvement with grief support groups, and just being available for those who needed her support.

She was preceded  in death by her parents Joseph and Frances (Krentz) Holzhuter,  brothers Joseph (Joey) and Harold (Bud) Holzhuter.  She is survived by her sister Jean Ann  Kuykendall (Dennis); nieces Angie (Kuykendall) Meade,  Lisa Everitt and Theresa Wurtz; nephews Ron Holzhuter, Dennis (Denny) Kuykendall; many cousins; longtime companion Sheri Johnson, and Joyce’s adopted Johnson family.’

We would like to thank the following for their loving care of Joyce:  Evergreen Hospice (Becca, Lacey, James and Amy), and caregivers Theresa and Deanna.  Thank you also to Evelyn and Marylou for faithfully bringing communion to Joyce each week, she so looked forward to your visits.

In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations to Queen of the Holy Rosary or Evergreen Hospice.