Oct. 5, 1938 – Nov. 27, 2019

JENA, Louisiana — A mass of Christian burial, celebrating the life of Joy Faye Owens Trunzler, who died Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, will be 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Jena, Louisiana, with the Rev. Jason Gootee officiating.   
A graveside service and burial will follow at Harrisonburg Cemetery in Harrisonburg, Louisiana, under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home in Jonesville.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Everyone is invited to the visitation and attend the mass service.
My mother, Joy Faye Owens Trunzler, was born on Oct. 5, 1938, in Alexandria, Louisiana, the daughter of Jack and Iva Clark Owens.
In 1945, Jack and Iva built a home here in Harrisonburg. Joy grew up in Harrisonburg and graduated from Harrisonburg high school in 1956. While in high school, she played basketball on the Harrisonburg girls’ team like many young girls of her age. Joy graduated in 1960 from Louisiana State University with a bachelor of science degree in medical technology, chemistry and physics. Joy was also member of the LSU chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi an international women’s fraternity founded on Jan. 2, 1897, and also became a lifetime member of the Daughters of the American Revolution while at Louisiana State University.
On Dec. 26, 1963, Joy Faye Owens Trunzler married Paul A. Lemke Jr., and from that marriage, two children were born. During the time Joy was married to Paul Lemke, she traveled extensively around the world and lived in Boston, Brownsburg, Indiana, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Bochum, Germany, and Lafayette, Alabama. Joy was a licensed real estate agent in Pennsylvania for seven years. Joy and Paul divorced in 1982, and afterwards, she returned to Louisiana to live in Lafayette, Louisiana. While living in Lafayette, Joy was also an active member of the Lafayette Pilot International club.
In the summer of 1984, Joy Faye Owens Trunzler returned to live in Harrisonburg and began working for the State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Community Services as a child abuse investigator. Joy continued to work in that office until her retirement and during her tenure, had a positive impact on the lives of countless children in both Catahoula and Concordia Parishes.
On Dec. 21, 1985, Joy Faye Owens Trunzler married Dr. Basil G. Trunzler IV and moved to Vidalia. In 1993, Joy and Basil decided to move back to Harrisonburg and built a home where they both lived for the rest of their lives. In 2004, Joy retired from state employment.  She was active for many years after her retirement as a volunteer at the CARA center in Jonesville where she continued her service of helping those in need. Joy converted to Catholicism when she married her first husband, Paul A. Lemke, and was active in all the churches she attended throughout her life. Upon her death, Joy was a member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Jena, Louisiana. Joy was also a devoted LSU fan who loved her team, was addicted to discount stores and could never pass up a yard sale.
Joy Faye Owens Trunzler was well named by her parents as she truly brought joy to the lives of others in everything she did. She will be greatly missed by her friends and family and the world is diminished by her passing.
Joy Faye Owens Trunzler preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 27 years, Basil G. Trunzler IV; and her beloved nephew, T-jack Owens.
Survivors include two children, Anne Lemke Head and Paul A. Lemke III; one brother, Jack F. Owens Jr.; two grandchildren, Ava Diamond and Weston Diamond; two step-grandchildren, Jackson Head and Kendall Head; two nieces, Tia Powers and Leah Tiffee; one nephew, Zachery Owens; and one son-in-law, Ken Head.
She is also survived by her beloved Maltese, Mia.
Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Oliphant, Jackie Owens, Daryl Floyd, Ken Head, Jackson Head and Zachary Owens.
The family wishes to thank Shirley Barnes who lived with Joy during her last few years and assisted her in many daily needs.
In lieu of flowers, Joy asked that you make memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, by mail to 501 St. Jude Plaza, Memphis, TN 38105. Donate by phone at (800) 805-5856 or go to http://www.stjude.org/donate.