Joyce E. Koelzer Akers-Beljan, 54, of Mesquitte, TX, died Monday, January 22, 2007 in Dallas, TX.

She was born, June 5, 1952, in Seneca, KS, the daughter of Thomas and Virginia Eis Koelzer. She attended Sts. Peter & Paul School and graduated from high school in 1970. Following high school, she attended Avila College in Kansas City, MO for two years and later graduated from Washburn University in Topeka. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma.

Joyce worked at an adolescent treatment center in Nowata, OK, and for several years at St. Francis Laurette Hospital in the mental health ER in Tulsa.

In 1979 she married David Akers. They were later divorced. They had two sons, Chad, who died in infancy, and Jeff. On June 30, 1997, she married Peter Beljan.

During her school days she was active in the HHHH 4H Club. At the present time she was a member of the Meadowlark group of the American Business Women’s Association. Joyce was a Denver Broncos fan, and she loved to play golf. She loved yellow and white daisies.

Survivors are her husband, Peter, of the home in Mesquitte; her son, Jeff Akers of Tulsa, OK; her mother, Virginia Koelzer of Seneca; two brothers, Jim Koelzer of Seneca and Rick Koelzer of Topeka; two sisters, Dr. Anita Koelzer of Lafayette, CO, and Nancy Sumpter of Topeka.

Besides her son, Chad, she was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Koelzer, on January 20, 1988.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10 AM Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Thursday at 2 PM and a prayer service at 7 PM.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter and Paul School, and sent in care of the family.