Joyce Elaine Hodges

Joyce Elaine (Copp) (Small) Hodges, age 92, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2025, joining her Lord and Savior.  She was born on December 27, 1932, to Roy and Pearl (Peterson) Copp at their farm near Logan, Iowa.  She was the fourth of five daughters.

On March 24, 1951, Joyce married the love of her life, Russell Small, and together they built a legacy at Small’s Fruit Farm near Mondamin, where they worked side by side for over 50 years.  She made thousands of fruit pies to sell in their pie parlor.  After Russell’s passing in 2006, Joyce continued to run the orchard with her son, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Renee, until she married Les Hodges in 2009 and moved to Omaha.

Joyce was active in the Daughters of the American Revolution where she served as President.  She was also a member of Eastern Star, the United Methodist Church, Raglan Women’s Club and the American Legion Auxillary.  She loved to travel and got to visit many places, both in the United States and other countries.  She loved cooking and baking.  She loved dancing, especially square dancing, where she and Russ made lifelong friends.  She also loved spending time with her four sisters fondly known as “Pearl’s Girls”.  Her biggest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She loved the holidays and no holiday was complete without her famous scothcheroos.  She loved playing cards and dominoes.  She had a beautiful smile and her hugs made you feel like the most special person in the room.

After moving to Omaha, she and Les joined the YMCA where they went to Silver Sneakers three times a week and had daily walks with their dog, Luna.  They also went to Bible Study and Joyce helped out with funerals at their church, Lutheran Church of the Master.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Les Hodges, her children, son Steve (Coleen) Small of Kansas City, son-in law, Keith (Coleen) Roemen of Council Bluffs, daughter Kathy (Gary) Duncan of Omaha and son Jim (Renee) Small of Mondamin, her 14 grandchildren, Ashley, Cole, Caleb, Hannah, Heath, Catie, Nick, Josh, Zach, Tina, Tami, Tanya, Trevor and Tuesday, and her 21 great grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister, Diane (Fred) Hoyt of Missouri Valley.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Russell Small, her daughter, Coleen Roemen, her parents, and three of her sisters, Jean Patterson, Donnna Gochenour and Wanda Arndt.  Her ashes will be laid to rest alongside Russell in the Magnolia Cemetery.  A portion of her ashes will be scattered at Small’s Fruit Farm where she spent most of her life.

Her legacy of love, hard work, and kindness will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Lutheran Church of the Master, 2617 S 114th Street in Omaha with visitation at 10:00 am, funeral at 11:00 am and luncheon to follow.  Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or directed to the family.