Joyce I. Johnson

Joyce Irma (Holman) Johnson, 90, died on March 19, 2024. Joyce was born on February 9, 1934 in South Milwaukee to Arnold and Elizabeth (Dobrenz) Holman. During Joyce’s childhood the family moved to the Holman farmstead in Price, Wisconsin and for a time she attended a one room schoolhouse. Joyce graduated from Fairchild High School in 1952 and moved back to Milwaukee to work for several years. She then began training to be a nurse at the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis, graduating in 1958. This was an important year for Joyce, as that same summer she married her high school date to the Prom, John “Jack” Johnson. Joyce spent her career as a nurse working at a variety of places, including Luther Hospital Obstetrics, the Clairemont Nursing Home and Student Health Services at UW-Eau Claire.

Joyce enjoyed many hobbies, including quilting and sewing, cooking, theater, singing, and traveling. She was a night owl who you could frequently find late in the evening enjoying an old black and white movie on TV. Joyce enjoyed organizing, volunteering for, and being a part of many different social organizations in Eau Claire, including Christian Women’s Club, UW-Eau Claire Faculty Wives, quilting groups, and Sons of Norway. She was a woman of exceptionally strong faith who attended and participated in many groups at Peace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire for over 50 years. These activities included singing in the choir, prayer chain, and serving as church librarian.

A caregiver at heart, Joyce took loving care of her four children, her husband, and other family members through the years. She was a woman with an encyclopedic memory for dates and events who never forgot your birthday and always sent a card with a personalized note. The staff at Grace Edgewood in Altoona, where Joyce lived for the last phase of her life, noted that to the end she was always looking out for and concerned about the needs of the other residents. One stated, “we learned something from Joyce: always take care of others, no matter who for and no matter how old you are…always show you care.” In turn, the aides at Grace Edgewood cared lovingly for Joyce in her final days and her family is forever grateful to them.

Joyce is survived by her four children: Joel (Evan) of Viola, Daniel (Diep) of Madison, Mark (Jennifer) of Wausau, and Jen of Minneapolis.; three grandchildren: Athena, Cameron, and Peter, two siblings: Juran of Santa Cruz, CA, and Dave (Jane) of Boise, ID, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband John, her infant sister Elaine and her brother Donald.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Feed My People Food Bank https://www.fmpfoodbank.org/ways_to_give/planned_giving.phtml or the Bolton Refuge House https://www.boltonrefuge.org/donate in Eau Claire.

Funeral service will take place at 11:00 am on Thursday, March 28, 2024  at Peace Lutheran Church, 501 E. Fillmore Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701 with Pastor Mark Schulz officiating. Visitation will take place at the church on Thursday morning from 10 am until the time of service.  Burial will take place, following a luncheon at church, on Thursday afternoon in the Scandinavian Lutheran Cemetery in Eau Claire.

Friends and family may offer condolences online at www.hulkefamilyfh.com.

Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire WI 54701 is assisting the family with arrangements. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.