In Loving Memory
Joy Klepfer, 1968 - 2007

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Joy with husband, Mike, and daughters, Nikki and Mikayla

In Memory of Joy Lee Klepfer

On November 13, 2007, Joy Lee Klepfer, age 39, passed away peacefully at home after a courageous yearlong battle with cancer. She leaves behind a husband, two young daughters and countless loved ones.

Joy was born on January 30, 1968 in Elmhurst, Ill., and raised in West Chicago. She received her bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University, and earned a master’s degree from California State University at Bakersfield.

In 1992, Joy married Mike Klepfer, and the two welcomed daughters Nicolette (Nikki) Paige (born in 1993) and Mikayla Glenette (born in 2001) into the family.

The Klepfers moved to Santa Clarita in 1999, and, as a teacher, Joy helped to open North Park Elementary School. She served as a head teacher for several years and was honored as a teacher of the year at the annual Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation Teacher Tribute Dinner in 2006. When not in the classroom, Joy could be found on the sidelines, cheering her daughters on in softball.

As a beloved teacher and member of the community, Joy left an imprint on the hearts of those who knew her. She will be remembered for her courage, her laughter, her devotion to her family, her passion for teaching and her love of life. She will be greatly missed by family, friends, students, parents and fellow teachers.

In addition to her husband, Mike, and daughters, Nikki and Mikayla of Santa Clarita, Joy is survived by her mother and father Joyce and Lee McNeil; two brothers, Dana (and Kathy) McNeil, Ross (and Leslie) McNeil; her grandmother Zoetta McNeil; father- and mother in-law Jim and Sharon Klepfer; brothers-in-law Steven (and Lisa) Klepfer, and David (and Tracy) Klepfer; and six nieces and nephews, all from Illinois.