Joyce Elaine Sykora

Joyce Elaine Sykora, age 98, of Norman, passed away on July 20, 2020, at Rambling Oaks Assisted Living Center.  She was born May 7, 1922, in Ringwood, Oklahoma to the late Eston and Gladys Jennison Bergdall.

Joyce was raised on a farm near Ringwood, and graduated from Ringwood High School in 1938.  She attended Northwest State College at Alva for one year, graduated from Enid Business College, and went to work for Champlin Refining Company in Enid, Oklahoma.

On February 21, 1945, Joyce was united in marriage to Henry Sykora at the Air Force Chapel in Roswell, New Mexico, and joined ‘Hank’ in his tours of duty in New Mexico, Nebraska and Michigan until Hank was discharged in November of 1945.  Afterward, she and Hank moved to Enid where Joyce worked for Eason Oil Company.  The couple resided there until 1956, and moved to Lawton, Oklahoma, where Joyce worked for Page Aircraft Maintenance in their accounting department.  In 1960, Joyce and Hank moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, where Joyce worked for Cessna Hydraulic Division as an accounting clerk for 27 years, and later retired from Eaton Hydraulics.

In retirement, Joyce enjoyed collecting dolls and antique glass, quilting, gardening, sewing, bowling and cooking.  One of her main interests was genealogy and exploring the internet.   Her extensive research led her to print several books tracing all four sides of her families and Hank’s.  Of all pastimes though, she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends the most.

In 2003, Joyce and Hank moved to Norman to be near family, and they joined the First Christian Church where Joyce was a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship and the Homebuilder’s Sunday school class.

Survivors include one daughter, Sheryl L. Wells of Norman; three grandchildren, Tiffany Wells Combs and her husband Justin of Moore, Trent R. Wells and his wife Heather of Norman, Jason H. Wells and his wife Kathryn of Moore; eight great grandchildren, Carter Wells, Piercen Wells, Hayden Wells, Sullivan Wells, Coleman Wells, Peyton Combs, Myla Wells and O’Ryan Wells, who all called Joyce ‘Gigi’.

In addition to her parents, Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Henry; sister, Vivian Stelzer; and son-in-law, Robert Wells.