Joyce was born on June 21, 1938, to Lewis and Lavina Wilson. Joyce grew up on the Lewvina Farm (dairy farm) where she helped milk and show Holstein cattle. Active in 4-H, she won the local Dairy Princess contest and earned a scholarship to MSU. Joyce obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MSU. She was a lifelong educator, teaching for more than 50 years in the business department at Lansing Community College. She also worked at the Capital Area Career Center for over 30 years, placing high school kids in cooperative employment positions. Seeing students succeed was a joy to her.
Joyce enjoyed gardening, running, keeping up with her grandkids, and watching MSU sports. She loved traveling and some favorite trips included seeing the ruts along the Oregon Trail from westward travel, the Grand Canyon, Grand Haven, and waterfalls everywhere. Joyce attended the Grovenburg United Methodist Church in Holt and was an active Girl Scouts Leader and Sunday School teacher.
She was preceded in death by parents, Lewis and Lavina Wilson; brother, Roger Wilson; brother-in-law, Joe Rabidoux; and son-in-law, Dan Loftus. She is survived by sister, Susan Rabidoux; brother, Doug (Bonnie) Wilson; children, Jennifer Loftus, Pamela (Mike) Catlin, AmySue Hopkins, Michael (Kim) Hopkins; grandchildren, Nathan, Laura, and Faith Hopkins and Natalie Catlin; nieces, Michelle (Neil) Munson, and Louise Rabidoux; great-nephew, Jesse Munson; and great-niece, Caroline Munson.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 11:00am at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Ball Dunn Chapel, 621 S. Jefferson St., Mason. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 18, 2018 from 4pm until 7pm, and again one hour prior to the funeral services. Interment will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Mason.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mason Food Bank or Greater Lansing Food Bank.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grbdmason.com.
