Joy Seward realized her life-long dream of heaven May 30, 2017, a few hours after she was struck by a car in a parking lot and suffered severe head trauma.
Born to Norma Joy Christensen on Aug. 23, 1943, in Fairbanks, Alaska, to Thomas Jessen and Norma Julia (Bouck) Christensen, Joy spent most of her childhood in Spokane, Washington. She earned a three-year Bible certificate from Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Saskatchewan, and attended Torch Trail Bible Camp during the summers, where she met her future husband, Walter Graham Seward of Vanguard, Saskatchewan. They were married on July 8, 1964, and moved to the Los Angeles area so Joy could pursue an Associate degree in Nursing from Biola University.
Joy and Walt started a Christian book distribution company called Successful Living Canada, based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they lived for 15 years and raised their three children, Walter Thomas (Tom), Mariquita Joy and Timothy Otto. They had dreamed of doing mission work in a Spanish-speaking country since they were first married and in 1987 sold their house and business to move to the Rio Grande Bible Institute in Texas for a year to learn Spanish. Under appointment with Gospel Missionary Union, they served as missionaries for four years in Ecuador working in literature distribution.
The Sewards returned to the States in 1991, this time settling in Fort Wayne, Ind. While Walt returned to the Christian book industry, Joy became a Registered Nurse, and enjoyed being active at Blackhawk Baptist Church and then Wallen Baptist Church, jumping into the role of loving grandma, serving the Amish community through her home nursing skills, and accompanying mission groups to Spanish-speaking countries for short-term service trips.
In 2007, Joy and Walt sensed the need to join Mariquita’s family in Florida, while Tom’s family was serving as missionaries overseas. In the meantime, Tim was married and his family eventually moved to Florida, too. In 2013, Joy and Walt transitioned back up north to Michigan when Tom’s family returned permanently from the mission field. They moved one more time to Delavan in 2015 when Tom’s family accepted a pastoral position there. Joy continued working as a senior home caregiver until the day of her death.
Joy leaves behind her husband of nearly 54 years, Walter; their children, Tom (Lisa) of Darien, Mariquita of Germantown, Md., and Tim (Wendy) of Palm Coast, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Andrew, Hilary, Benjamin, Anna, Caleb, Jacob and Audra; two sisters, Ruth Karen Greene of Arizona and Rose Ellen DeShaw of Ontario, Canada; along with many extended family members, in-laws, and friends.
Many remember her bright smile and joyful spirit, and her heart for evangelism and children. Memorial donations are welcomed to The Gideons International for Bible distribution.
