Joyce, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and community member, went to live in eternity with her Lord and Savior, on March 8, 2025, at the age of 83. She was born on March 15, 1941, in Kenosha, WI, to Linnea (Westman) and Edward Olson. Joyce was baptized as a baby at Bristol Methodist Church and remained a member there until January 2024, when she became a member of Union Grove Methodist Church.
A proud graduate of Central High School in Paddock Lake, WI, Joyce was valedictorian of her class in 1959. She went on to attend Union Grove Teachers College, graduating in 1961. Joyce began her teaching career at Highland School in Kenosha before dedicating herself to raising her family. On June 30, 1962, Joyce married Ralph Peter Myers, and together they raised five children, who would bless them with 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren over their 62 years of marriage.
Joyce returned to the workforce when her youngest child entered 8th grade, becoming a Reading Specialist at Bristol Consolidated School. She retired after 24 years of service at Bristol School as a Library Assistant. Her passion for reading was contagious, and she made it her mission to instill that love in her students, including as a coach for the highly competitive Battle of the Books. She created an environment where they could experience the joy of literature.
Beyond her family, Joyce was deeply involved in her community. She dedicated many hours to the PTO, 4-H, HCE, church activities, and was a proud founding member of the Paddock Lake Lions Club serving for over 35 years. Joyce was happiest when she was helping others, and one of her greatest joys was our family’s “Christmas with the Recruits.” From 2008 to 2019, she and her family hosted a “ship” of recruits from the Great Lakes Naval base on Christmas Day, welcoming them and becoming their family when they could not be with their own.
In 2019, Joyce and Ralph made the significant decision to move from their home of 57 years in Bristol to Wheatland, WI, where they lived with family in a four-generational household, enjoying the countryside for the last five and a half years. This move allowed Joyce not only to help raise her great-grandchildren but to be a part of their everyday lives, creating cherished memories and strengthening the bond between generations.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Linnea and Edward Olson, and her brother, Gene Olson.
She will be profoundly missed by her husband, Ralph; her children, Marcia (Jon Daniel) Peterson, Melissa (Dan) Riddell, Jeffrey (Jeanette) Myers, James (Linda) Myers, and Jerome (Kirsten) Myers; her grandchildren, Nikodemus (Ally) Garcia, Francesca Garcia, Thia Garcia (Darien), Michael Myers (Karey), Emily (Aaron) Swift, Kristina Myers, David Myers (Ronni), Sarah Myers (Jack), Caitlyn (Josue) Josh, and Bradley Myers; and her great-grandchildren, Kael, Annika, Astrid, and Roman Garcia, and Carter and Grayson Myers, who affectionately called her “GG.”
Joyce’s legacy of love, warmth, and dedication to her family, church, students, and community will be forever cherished.
Memorial visitation will be held at Proko Funeral Home on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Additional visitation will be held the next day on Sunday, March 16, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to either Union Grove Methodist Church or Paddock Lake Area Lions Club.
To livestream the service on Sunday, please click on the hyperlink or copy and paste the below link in a web browser.
https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTc0MTYxNzQwMzM1MzMwNiZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==
