Joyce Madelyn Mortt

Joyce Madelyn (White) Mortt, 94, of Eau Claire, Wisc. died peacefully Thursday March 19, 2026 with family by her side at Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines in Altoona, Wisc. Joyce was born on February 14, 1932 in Chetek, Wisc. to Norman and Lorna (Robinson) White, and she grew up on a farm near Chetek. Joyce graduated from Chetek High School in 1950. Joyce met the love of her life Ray Mortt in Eau Claire, Wisc. and on May 26, 1956, they married. They were blessed with four beautiful daughters and many years together filled with love, family, and faith.

After high school graduation, Joyce attended Eau Claire Vocational School and worked for National Presto Industries and the Vocational School for several years. After she and Ray wed, Joyce devoted herself to her home and family. In later years, she worked for the Equifax Company and then for sixteen years as a secretary at Children's Service Society of Eau Claire, from which she retired in 2004. Joyce greatly enjoyed all secretarial duties. including shorthand and typing and especially transcribing from a Dictaphone. Joyce had exceptional English, grammar, and spelling skills, keeping sharp with matters of grammar throughout her life and to the delight of her children and grandchildren.

Joyce's life was guided by her faith. She was an active member of Lake Street United Methodist Church, where she served in different capacities, among them teaching Sunday School. She was also active in United Methodist Women.

Joyce enjoyed music and singing, reading, baking, and tending her many house plants. She was the consummate homemaker. Her grandchildren were her special joy, and she loved her dog and cats. She was very proud of her Irish heritage, and she and her brother, Dick, visited Ireland in 2002 in a trip of a lifetime. Joyce had a great sense of humor, delighting in clever turns of phrases from her husband Ray and other family and friends.

Joyce loved both St. Patrick's Day and Valentines Day, which was also her birthday and the day Ray proposed marriage to her. She donned special outfits for each holiday. Joyce spent her last two years at Grace Lutheran Communities - River Pines in Altoona where she made many friends in both the residents and staff. Both River Pines and St. Croix Hospice made Joyce's final months filled with love and care.

Joyce is survived by her three daughters, Susan (Michael) Nelson of Bayfield, Wisc., Cynthia Mortt Lamb of Brookyn, N.Y., Jennifer Mortt Johnson (Mark) of Wausau, Wisc., six grandchildren Eli Lamb, Oliver (Alexandra) Lamb, Madelyn (Kristen Bywater) Nelson, Pete Johnson, Becky (Clay) Crane, and Andrea (Pete Hannon) Nelson, great grandchild Luella Lamb, niece Barbara (Bill Eastwood) Shaffer, nephew David White, great niece Natalie (Charlie McDonough), great nephew Nicholas (Meredith Miles) Apseloff, great great nephew Owen Apseloff, and honorary family member Jodi Lundak. Joyce is preceded in death by her husband
Ray, her daughter Rebecca, her brother Richard White, her sister-in-law Margaret White, her parents Norman and Lorna White, her infant sister Madelyn White, and her special friend Ray Ziehme.

Funeral services will be at Lake Street United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Rebecca Borke and Pastor Jerry officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. before the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society, the American Humane Association, or Lake Street United Methodist Church.

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