FELLNER, Joyce

JOYCE (GHOLZ) FELLNER

July 22, 1947 – April 23, 2019

JOYCE FELLNER passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family at St. Michael’s Health Centre Palliative Care Unit on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at the age of 71 years, after a courageous battle with ALS.

Joyce was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. She attended public schools in Bakersfield and graduated with honors from high school in 1965. Throughout her junior and senior high school and Bakersfield College careers, she played the French horn and, in 1966, marched with the Bakersfield College Band in the Rose Bowl Parade. For a number of years she played in the Lethbridge Gold Band. In the summer of 1964, she was an exchange student in Mexico City where she attended the University of Mexico to study Spanish. From 1967 to 1969, she attended the University of Oregon-Eugene and majored in German, the language she studied throughout high school and college. She graduated from the University of Oregon in 1969 with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Oregon for high academic honors.

In 1968 she met her future husband, Erwin Fellner, at the University of Oregon. On New Year’s Eve, Erwin and Joyce were engaged and on March 27, 1969 the two were married in Bakersfield. During the summer of 1969, they moved to Lethbridge where Joyce continued her studies to become a teacher. On April 18, 1970, Suzanne was born at St. Michael’s Hospital. Joyce’s teaching career started at Hamilton Jr. High School where she taught for two years. From 1973 to 1975, she lived in Germany where Erwin was appointed Vice Principal of the Department of National Defence’s Junior School in Baden Sölingen, Germany. In July 1975, the family returned to Lethbridge. Shortly after arriving in Lethbridge, Heidi was born and, in 1976, Joyce returned to teaching and was appointed to Gilbert Paterson Junior High School where she stayed for most of her 22 years teaching career.

In 1993, Erwin retired and Joyce took a one-year leave of absence so they could both attend the University of Klagenfurt in Austria. Upon their return to Lethbridge, Joyce taught third and fourth grade for two years. In 1996, Joyce and Erwin accepted a two-year teaching position as the founding staff of the Dresden International School in Dresden, Germany. Joyce’s fluency in German was an asset in German-speaking countries as well in fitting in with Erwin’s many Austrian relatives. Soon after returning to Lethbridge, Joyce retired from teaching in 2000.

During the many years living in Europe, Joyce and Erwin travelled extensively. After their retirements, they travelled to many parts of the world. Besides travelling, Joyce was a devoted grandmother and an avid quilter.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Erwin, daughters Suzanne Schleindlhuber and Heidi Wood (Dylan), stepchildren Craig and Sandra Fellner (Lori), grandchildren Lukas, Lia, Spencer and Miles, nephews Andrew Schuchardt (Tiffany) and Nathan Gholz (Sara), and nieces Anita Ryder (Dan) and Laurel Gholz.

She was predeceased by her father, Charles Gholz (1983), her mother, Florence Gholz (2007) and her brother, Lee Alan Gholz (1999).

A Celebration of Joyce’s Life will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, AB on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 2:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully appreciated to the ALS Society of Alberta: 7874 – 10 Street N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 8W1.

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com