Una Joyce Podlena (1924-2022)

Una Joyce Podlena, 97, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Home in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born to Theodore Buehler and Francis (Tobin) Buehler on Oct. 31, 1924, in Wilson, Kan. Joyce spent her early years in Wilson going to school and working for Sam Klema at the IGA store.

On Sept. 19, 1944, Joyce married her long-time sweetheart, Bill Podlena in Scott City, Kan. While Bill was overseas, Joyce worked for Dr. Kippinberger as a CNA. In 1950, Bill and Joyce moved to the family farm southeast of Wilson, where Bill worked in the oil fields and Joyce was a farm wife. In 1963, they moved to Wilson, where Bill was a pipeline welder and Joyce worked at various jobs including Ellsworth Hospital, Ben Franklin Store and taking care of the family. She also worked at the IGA store, Morgan’s and This and That and was a guide for the Wilson Opera House, each 10 years. Joyce had a wonderful sense of humor which she kept to the end.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill; son Danny; infant grandson John Loy; son-in-law Gary Bricker; brothers Orvil, Dean, Glen, Ted, Dale and Norris and their spouses; sisters Neva, Veta and Ulayla and their spouses; infant sister Fern; and little brother Ralph.

Left to mourn her are her children, Bill Podlena (Sharman) of Maize, Kan., Donna Steinle (Darrell) of Topeka, Kan., Betty Loy (Dave) of Yukon, Okla., Kathy Bricker of Russell, Kan., Pat Podlena (Becky) of Minnesota, and Robert Podlena of New York; grandchildren, Mike Steinle, Dee Loy, Angel Munday, Danny Bricker, Josh Podlena and Kendra Hyman; and five great-grandchildren.

Cremation was chosen and services will be at a later date.

Condolences can be made at parsonsfh.com.