JOY DRAKE May 15, 1936 – June 1, 2024
Joy Drake, 88, of Los Alamos, died June 1, 2024.
Joy was born May 15, 1936 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Joy was a wonderful person, who could be described in numerous ways: elegant, silly, adventurous, artistic, musical, a football fanatic and a true friend.
During her early childhood she lived in Eagle Grove, Cherokee and Waterloo, Iowa following her father’s teaching positions. At 7 years old through high school, she lived on her Grandpa Henry Stavenhagen’s farm (he homesteaded in the 1800s) in Victor, Iowa. They had a mixed farm where she loved the variety of plants and animals. In high school she participated in glee club, choir, and was Assistant Editor of the school annual, was Student Vice President and Class Secretary, lettered in basketball and played clarinet.
She was awarded the Phi Beta Kapa high school scholarship and was Salutatorian at her graduation 5/23/54.
Joy attended college at the University of Iowa on a Highland scholarship and worked as a waitress in the Student Union. She did her student teaching (biology/general science) at Marion High School. She was a drummer and bagpiper with the Scottish Highlander’s all girls bagpipe band. They marched in the Rose Parade in January 1957 and she was given a rose from the queen’s float. In July 1957, Joy and the bagpipe band performed on the Ed Sullivan TV show and for President Eisenhower. They stopped in Washington, D.C. on their way to tour Canada, Scotland (Edenborough castle), England, Holland, France, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, Italy and Switzerland. They performed for 5 million people and in 28 states.
The band traveled on the Queen Elizabeth on the Cunard Line for their travels across the Atlantic. All her letters home were published in the Victor news. The girls returned from the epic tour Sept. 11.
After 107 dates with Duane H. Drake, Joy became engaged on May 29, 1957 (yes, she numbered them on her college planner). He was in his sophomore year at SUI College of Medicine. June 13, 1958 she received her BA in General Science, and the following day she was married to Duane in Victor, Iowa.
Joy taught for Mid-Prairie Community Schools in Kalona, IA 1958-1959, and had her 1st child, Andrew, 7/03/59. In June of 1961 the family moved to Miami, FL and a few months later to Los Alamos, NM for Duane’s internship/residency. In 1963 Joy had her 2nd child, Jill. That same year, Joy met her lifelong group of best friends, self-named the Blue Birds. They were a close-knit group of friends for over 60 years who shared coffee, stories, sewing, quilting, picnics, hikes, silliness, family and life.
Joy became a part of the Los Alamos community through all her many activities and due to her husband being the only GP. She was her daughter’s Lassy League girl’s soft ball coach/manager. In 1975 the team became the junior league champs. Taking her adventures to the air, Joy obtained her pilot’s license in 1966. She also became certified in scuba and learned to craft beautiful jewelry.
After her husband died in 1977, Joy began working full-time at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Radiochemist and was hired “because she could drive a forklift”. She made many life-long friends through renting rooms out of her house. She also traveled extensively to places that included Greece, Egypt, Greenland, Antarctica, the Amazon, Africa, and Australia, to name a few.
Joy gained a whole new family when she married Alfred Zeltmann on 4/26/1987. They went to the Galapagos and Peru for their honeymoon. They also went on Cruises to the Caribbean, language school in France and rented estates for foreign family/friends adventures together. With Al, she found a partner in travel, language and intellect. After early retirement in 1993, Joy was active in the Unitarian Choir, Los Alamos Light Opera, 4/5th folk singing group, Los Alamos Little theater (costume, props, set, acting, singing, producing and directing), Recorder group, Choral Society and attending the Santa Fe Operas. And later, her bridge and Poker gangs were great friends.
It was terrific that, with the help of “her ladies”, family and friends, Joy was able to stay in her home until the end, enjoying her backyard porch with her dogs while watching nature at its best! Birds, bears, deer, foxes, racoons, mountain lions and bobcats … and being surrounded by so much love.
Joy Drake May 15, 1936 – June 1, 2024
Joy is survived by her daughter, Jill Rice (Scott); stepchildren, Carol Hengstenberg (Bob), Ann Zeltmann, and Tom Zeltmann (Kay); grandchildren, Cory Rice, Nicole Rice (Cameron), Doug Zeltmann (Valerie), Abigail Hengstenberg, and Robert Hengstenberg; and great grandchildren, Harper Gamble, Layla Tapia and Mia Tapia.
Joy’s celebration of life will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 17 at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos, NM. Interment will be prior to the celebration.
RSVP to Jill Rice.