Joyce L. Neubauer's Obituary
Joyce L. Neubauer, 77, of Clinton, passed away, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Select Specialty Hospital in Davenport, Iowa.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 18 at 9:00 a.m. at the Clinton Chapel of Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory. Funeral services will immediately follow at 10:00 a.m., with burial at Clinton Lawn Cemetery.
Joyce Lynn (Gilbert) Neubauer was born on June 2, 1948, in Clinton, Iowa the daughter of Earl and Virginia “Margaret” (Schawl) Gilbert. She graduated from Clinton High School in 1966.
Joyce was employed by the United States Postal Service for 13 years, retiring in 2010. Her most cherished role in life was being a mother. She also spent many years as an exercise instructor and volunteered at her daughter’s school, including being room mother. Prior to motherhood, she worked at a bank in Winnetka, Illinois, a role of which she was very proud.
Joyce had a unique sense of style and loved sparkly things. She enjoyed spending time in her flower garden and treasured spending time with her “tribe.” She had an infectious laugh, loved animals, and was full of spunk while also having the kindest soul. She was also the strongest, most resilient “badass” with a heart of gold. Joyce embodied the words from Disney's Mulan, "The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all." She was most certainly rare and beautiful through everything she faced.
The titles she cherished most were Mom and Grandma and loved "my four loves" more than anything in the world. She lived by the motto, "Always show more kindness than seems necessary, because the person receiving it needs it more than you will ever know." –Colin Powell, and believed deeply in the Golden Rule: treat others the way you would want to be treated.
Joyce is survived by her daughter, Megan (Chris) Gray of Aurora, Colorado; two grandchildren, Colton and Lindsie; her brother, David (Sara) Schawl; sisters-in law, Linda (the late Gary) Gilbert; Julie (the late Donald) Gilbert; her dear niece, Jody Gilbert (Robert Anderson); great-nieces, Cathryn and Carolyn Graham; her dear nephew, Dan Gilbert, and her significant other of over 40 years, Larry Petersen.
She was preceded in death by her infant son, Jason; her former husband Floyd Neubauer, father of her daughter and son; her parents Earl and Margaret; one sister Carol; and two brothers Gary and Donald.
Memorials may be made to the Clinton Humane Society or the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre.
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