Mrs. Thiel has been a member of the Valley team as a faithful volunteer since 2012 when she began our elementary library after the closing of Immanuel Lutheran School. Mrs. Thiel attended Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) where she received a BA in Home Economics and Social Studies for grades sixth through twelfth. She had always dreamed of being a librarian so took the step to get her Library Sciences endorsement during the years she was a stay at home mom. 2023-2024 is her 66th year of teaching!

Mrs. Thiel is a widow but is a proud mom of three children. She has one grandson, two step grandchildren and six step great-grandchildren. Joy states, "I always knew my 'next life after retirement' would be as an avid volunteer. I have also had so many wonderful experiences that I would never have had sitting home watching TV!"

Mrs. Thiel has a jigsaw puzzle out every day of the year. She also enjoys reading, sewing, crocheting, working in/with her garden, flowers, and lawn. She caters to two rescue cats that "run her household". Valley is very grateful to Mrs. Thiel for the hours each week she gives so freely to the Valley students!