Obit: Joyce, William Earl #2 (1920 - 2006)
Contact:  Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Joyce, Holt, Kohniak, Hannan, Jensen, Weyer, Peterson

----Sources: Clark County Press (Neillsville, WI.) January 3, 2007

Joyce, William Earl (August 9, 1920 - December 25, 2006)

William E. Joyce, age 86, of Loyal, passed away on December 25, 2006 at the Clark County Health Care Center, in Owen, where he had been a resident since August 11, 2006.

William Earl Joyce was born on August 9, 1920 in the Township of Weston, rural Greenwood, to William E. Sr. and Vera (Holt) Joyce. He attended the Foreman School in the Township of York, Clark County, WI. After his education, he worked for Alfred Boon Trucking, in addition to helping on the family farm. On Oct. 9, 1942 William entered the U. S. Army, where he joined the 77th Infantry, 306th Service Company. He participated in the South Pacific Campaign during WWII, receiving three battle stars for military action at Leyte Gulf and Ormoc Bay, Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. He received the Bronze Star for meritorious service.

After his discharge, William returned to Clark County, purchasing a farm in the Township of York. He was united in marriage to Olga Kohniak on July 6, 1947 in Lublin, WI. In addition to farming, William took a position with Roddis Co., (Weyerhauser), in Marshfield, in 1959. He was employed there for 19 years. In 1976, the couple moved to a hobby farm north of Loyal. William resided there until the death of his wife.

On September 3, 1982, William married Alice Hannan, and the couple resided in Loyal. She passed away in 1986. William resided at his home until moving to the Loyal Hometown Village Apartments in the fall of 1998.

He had many interests, but especially enjoyed deer hunting with his daughter, Dawn, fishing reading, traveling, and taking ATV rides through the woods to observe the wildlife. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He was a member of the Loyal American Legion, Post #175.

He is survived by two daughters, Helen (Lawrence) Jensen, of Spencer; Dawn (Thomas) Weyer, of Greenwood; two grand-sons; three great-grandsons; one great granddaughter; and two brothers, Wilbur Joyce, of Marshfield; and Walter Joyce, of Dayton, OH.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his two wives; and one sister, Alice Peterson, of Muskegon, MI, in 1986.

Funeral services were held Saturday December 30, 2006, at Cuddie funeral Home, in Loyal. Rev. Paul Dekker officiated. Burial was in St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Loyal American Legion, Post #175.

Pallbearers were, William Sachs, James Sachs, James Holt, Lloyd Engelberth, Richard Jensen, Kevin Jensen and Duane Weyer.

Honorary pallbearers were, Stephanie Downey, Richard E. Holt and Dale Windsor.