Post Messenger Recorder -

The good Lord sent his angels to Rockford early on the morning of May 13th, and carried back to Heaven a wonderful, sweet lady named Joyce Lapp to be with him forever. Joyce contracted COVID on April 20th and passed away at OSF Medical Center in Rockford on May 13, 2022. Joyce was born the daughter of John and Doris (Jordan) Mellenberger of Dayton/Belleville, Wisconsin, on October 31, 1948.

She attended grade school at East Dayton and was a graduate of Belleville High School and MATC. She married Richard (Dick) Lapp on May 27, 1972, at First United Church of Christ of Belleville. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on this May 27th. She worked for the DNR in Madison before her marriage and she and Dick settled in Rockford, Illinois, shortly after their marriage where she worked for Ipsen Industries and Miller Eye Center. She loved anything Boston Terrier. She enjoyed quilting and worked occasionally at her friend's quilt shop, Quilter's Haven in Rockford, after her retirement. She enjoyed helping the customers find just that perfect color to complete their next quilting project. She had the eye for finding just the right 9 or 10 colors to go together perfectly. She enjoyed reading and doing word search. She and Dick had their home and yard well surrounded with beautiful flowers and enjoyed watching all the hummingbirds and orioles empty jar after jar of grape jelly each summer. She and Dick took a yearly trip to northern Wisconsin to spend a week on Little St. Germaine Lake. While there, they enjoyed looking for Eagles and Loons, and spending time at antique malls and flea markets. These outings had to be discontinued the last three years, when it was prohibited by their health and COVID. She was a member of the First United Church of Christ at Belleville and eight years ago she and Dick joined the Second Congregational First Presbyterian Church in Rockford.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Dick; her sister, Marilyn Mellenberger; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Kuhse of Brodhead; nephews, Steve and Mike; and niece, Amy; and great-niece, Haley. She is further survived by cousins; friends; and Marilyn's Boston Terrier, Maddi. She also leaves special friends, John, Vicki and Maureen McCoy, Stephanie Gauerke and family, and Denise Braney. The family thanks them for all their support and love they had shown Joyce over the years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Doris Mellenberger; her in-laws, Raymond and Helen Lapp; brother-in-law, Ed Kuhse; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and her three Bostons, Big Mac, Abby and Angel.

When you see a cardinal, think of Joyce. Her wish for everybody would be to take advantage of every chance you get to spend with your family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at the First United Church of Christ 130 East Church Street, Belleville, WI, with Pastor Laura Kolden officiating with burial in the Belleville Cemetery. A catered luncheon will follow at the Beil Fellowship Hall at the church. Due to COVID restrictions, the church prefers no food be brought in and masks must be worn at all times, except while eating. A visitation will precede the funeral service from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the First United Church of Christ in Belleville.

The Becker-Beal Funeral Home of Belleville, WI, is assisting the family.

A memorial fund has been established.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.