Joyce Margaret Cunningham

Joyce Cunningham, age 86, of Prior Lake, MN passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 22, 2017.

Joyce was born on December 30, 1930 to Arthur and Freda (Nelson) Pleidrup of Verndale MN. Joyce grew up on a dairy farm where she developed her love of gardening. Whether it was flowers or vegetables, Joyce always had her hands in the dirt, sewing her seeds and tending her crops.

After graduating from high school in 1948, Joyce left Verndale and moved to Minneapolis where, after finishing secretarial school, started working in the Steno-pool at Brunswick. While working in Minneapolis, she met Tom Cunningham, and after a whirlwind romance, Joyce and Tom were married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Iowa. Returning to Minneapolis after their honeymoon, Joyce & Tom set up housekeeping and their three sons arrived over the course of the next several years. After living in Minneapolis for many years and commuting to their Mille Lacs Lake cabin on the weekends, Tom & Joyce decided to leave the city and found a lake home in Prior Lake. Joyce moved with her family to Prior Lake in 1965. For the next 39 years lived very happily on Candy Cove, enjoying the year round pleasures of lake living, Joyce’s love of gardening lead her into the Prior Lake Garden Club where she made many lifelong friends.

As a long time and active member of Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Joyce expanded her circle of friends and deepened her community times. Once her children were older, Joyce returned to the workforce and eventually settled into the Prior Lake School District, where she worked as a Librarian Assistant for many years, further expanding her circles of community and friendships.

After her retirement, Joyce enjoyed traveling with her husband, Tom, socializing with friends, being a grandmother, volunteering at the CAP Agency thrift store and Shepherd of the Lake Church. She continued gardening and was always surrounded by potted plants and flowers, with African Violets being her favorite plant. After selling the lake home, Joyce and Tom stayed in Prior Lake and continued to enjoy life as her grandchildren matured into adulthood and finally gave her the great-grandchild she had been so longing for. Joyce continued to live independently until this past summer, when she moved from her townhome into assisted living in Prior Lake.

Joyce is survived by her three sons, Steve (Lucy), Bill (Gail) and Bob (Katherine); six grandchildren, Grant, Brian (Kristine), Katie, Thomas, Elizabeth and Liam; and one great granddaughter, Bennet.

Joyce was welcomed into heaven by her loving husband, Thomas; parents, Arthur and Freda; brother, Gordon Pleidrup and infant sister, Patricia Pleidrup.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 26, from 4-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake and one hour prior to the service at church. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, January 27 at 11 am, at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church 3611 North Berens Road NW, Prior Lake. A luncheon will follow the service with interment at Spring Lake Cemetery at 2 pm.

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