Joyce M. (Kohlscheen) Bills

Celebration of Life Services for Joyce M. (Kohlscheen) Bills will be held on Monday, June 29, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Rev. Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr. officiating.  Interment will be held following a luncheon at the church in the Paxton Cemetery at Paxton, Nebraska at 2:30 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Joyce Marie (Kohlscheen) Bills, 81 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.  Joyce was born September 23, 1933 at Paxton, the fifth of six children born to John Wesley and Minnie Marie (Crook) Holmstedt.  She received her primary and secondary education from Paxton Public Schools, graduating from Paxton High School with the class of 1951.  She then pursued higher education to follow her passion of a teaching career at Kearney State Teachers College in Kearney, Nebraska.  Joyce received her teaching certificate and then taught in numerous Nebraska schools including: Cozad, Kearney, Litchfield, Superior, Franklin and lastly, Holdrege.  Joyce taught for over 40 years and tutored and mentored children until her retirement in 2012.

Joyce was united in marriage to Kenneth A. Kohlscheen on June 26, 1955 at Paxton and to this union three children were born:  Brian, Jill and Ronn.  After Kenny's discharge from the Air Force, the family made their home in Kearney.  In 1968 they settled to Holdrege.  Kenny preceded Joyce in death on January 22, 1990.

On July 11, 1992, she was united in marriage to Edwin J. Bills of Grand Island, Nebraska.  They blended two families into one and enjoyed 23 years of marriage together.

Joyce was a member of the Nebraska Education Association and volunteered for the Phelps County Voters Registration for many years.  Joyce's love for children and caring heart carried over into her work as a C.A.S.A. volunteer for several years.  She loved reading, playing cards and sewing.  Joyce also enjoyed cooking and baking and will be remembered for her delicious brownies and monkey bread.  But most of all, she loved spending time with her family and friends.

Joyce became a Christian at a young age and was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege.  She served her church in many capacities including: Sunday school teacher for many years, wedding and reception coordinator and was involved in the Shalom Circle.

Besides her parents and first husband, Kenny; Joyce was preceded in death by two sisters:  Peggy Myers and her husband, H.J. and Maxine Holz and her husband, Marvin; and one brother, John Holmstedt.

She leaves to celebrate her life; her husband, Ed Bills of Holdrege; three children: Brian Kohlscheen and his wife, Clarice of Norman, Oklahoma, Jill Burns and her husband, Dr. R. Cartland Burns of Orlando, Florida and Ronn Kohlscheen of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; three stepsons:  Bradley Bills and his wife, Carol and Scott Bills and his wife, Barb all of Grand Island, and Barry Bills and his wife, Traci of Omaha, Nebraska; 7 grandchildren; 6 step-grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; brother, Donald Holmstedt and his wife, Lorraine of Moraga, California; sister, Marjorie Perlinger and her husband, Alfred of Paxton; sister-in-law, Donna Holmstedt of Astoria, Oregon; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2015 from the 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Joyce's honor and kindly suggested to the First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege or C.A.S.A.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.