Joy Marie Blomberg

Joy Marie Blomberg, 86, of Manda, passed away Monday, January 15, 2024, in Pflugerville, Texas.  Joy was born in Houston, Texas, youngest of five children, to Mable Blanche Smith Hare and Charlie Daniel Hare, on January 6, 1938.  The family moved from Houston to Austin in 1941 and lived on Avenue D in the Hyde Park area just north of the University of Texas at Austin.  Joy spent the rest of her growing up years in this little Hyde Park home.  The famous Hare Porch Swing was a central part of family life there and to this day remains in the Hare family.  Joy graduated from McCallum High School in 1955 where she participated in Future Teachers of America, the Blue Brigade, and choir.  After graduation she attended various higher education institutions including Abilene Christian University, Harding University and Southwest University (now Texas State University) while studying to be a teacher.  Later on, it was in San Marcos that she met her future husband.  On December 9, 1961, she married the love of her life, Albin Eric Allan Blomberg.  Their union was blessed with 61 years together.  The couple had two children, John and Rachel.  

As Eric's work demanded, the family moved all over Texas.  Eventually the family settled at the family farm in Manda.  Joy worked as a bank teller for many years.  Her memories of her time as a teller included waiting on Mickey Mantle, James Street, and observing Lee Harvey Oswald as he was escorted out of the Texas Theatre.  She also worked as a substitute teacher. She finished her career as a clerk for the Texas Department of Public Safety from which she retired on March 13, 1999.  She attended many Churches of Christ including Northside in Austin (now Hyde Park), College and Central Churches of Christ in Victoria, Elgin Church of Christ and later the Taylor Church of Christ. 

Joy enjoyed spending time with family and traveling.  Family trips included camping trips to Colorado and Arkansas.  In later years her travels included a trip to Germany, cruises, and bus tours to various places.  She enjoyed eating out with friends and family and loved to read.  Her husband reminisced of how Joy and her friend Clara patronized various restaurants sampling the pies when living in Victoria, Texas.

Joy was preceded in death by her beloved husband; her sister, Virginia Johnson; and her brother William (Billy) Hare. Joy is survived by her son, John Blomberg and wife Kanette of Manor; her daughter, Rachel Fails of Manda; brother, Charles Hare and his wife Cile; sister, Mary Ann Berry and her husband Clyde; her seven grandchildren, Loren Lowry and her husband Bradley; Svea Blomberg; Megan Thurmond and her husband Marcus; Caden Agenter and her husband Weston; John Taylor Blomberg; Andrew Fails; and Payton Fails; two great-granddaughters, Braeley and Lucy Lowry; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

A special thanks to all her caregivers over the past several years.  Most recently the Richard A. Anderson Texas State Veterans Home and North Austin Senior Living.

Family and Friends will gather for Visitation at Elgin Funeral Home, Sunday, January 21st from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM.  A Celebration of Joy's Life will be conducted at Elgin Funeral Home, Monday, January 22nd at 11:00 AM with Jason Wilder and Darrell Glover presiding.  Interment will follow at New Sweden Lutheran Church Cemetery.