Joyce Christian

Joyce M. Christian, 94, a life-long resident of Grantsburg, WI entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020.

Joyce was born January 26, 1926, in Frederic, WI to Swen and Hazel (Larson) Swenson. Her parents operated a grocery store in Alpha from 1928-1933. Over the years, Joyce shared many memories of life in Alpha and thus the inception of the “Alpha hug”. The family eventually moved to Grantsburg, where Joyce graduated from high school in 1943. This small town gal, along with a couple friends, headed to the big city of Minneapolis, finding employment with the Federal Reserve Bank, working as a clerk-typist until 1944.

In January 1945, Joyce married Walter Christian in Madison, WI. In the fall of 1950 and with 3 young children, the family moved to Minneapolis, returning permanently to Grantsburg in the summer of 1951. Joyce, loving to work with numbers, eventually returned to work as a part-time bookkeeper for the Journal Publishing Company. After five years of employment and two more children, Joyce became a stay-at-home mom. She was active in the lives of her five children, whether it was a Girl Scout or Cub Scout leader, Sunday school teacher or attending school and sporting activities. From 1963 until her retirement in 1989, Joyce worked at the local US Post Office as a sub clerk.

Over the years Joyce was actively involved in the local community, Grace Baptist Church and the Great Lakes Conference. As a walking history book for the previously named and family genealogist, Joyce would say, “Nobody can dispute me about the facts because I’m older than anyone else!”

Joyce enjoyed sewing, hand quilting and needlework, excelling in Hardanger. She often created her own designs, bringing in blue and Grand champion ribbons from the local fair. Joyce so willingly shared her skills with those who were interested, whether it was teaching Hardanger, other handwork, or bread making. She enjoyed sharing her homemade skorpe (Swedish rusks), caramel puff corn and Chex mix.

Joyce, being a couple months older than Queen Elizabeth, took a keen interest in her life and the events of the century. Granddaughter Stephanie and her husband, Dan surprised her Grandma with a deed to a piece of property in England and now the family had a Lady Joyce in their midst!

Joyce loved to read and study the Holy Bible, which became her source of strength, comfort and instruction for daily living. Just as she had been mentored by ladies of the community and church in her early life of motherhood, in turn became a mentor over the years to young women in the local community.

As a life-long learner, Joyce will be remembered for her curiosity, steadfastness, patience, quiet spirit, encouraging support, and words of wisdom. She was a faithful prayer warrior and loved by all who met her.

Joyce loved her family, especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren, who brought new life to a quiet household.

Joyce was preceded in death by Walter, husband of 65 years; grandson, Kyle; and brother, Jack. She is survived by daughters: Diana (Peter) Olson and Janice (Richard) Olson; sons: Jon (Susan), David (Carolyn) and Joseph (Martha); grandchildren: Ty (Sandi), Alan (Jennifer), Dawn (Shun-Luoi), Carey, Adam (Mary), Stephanie (Daniel), Eric and Edward; great-granchildren: Maddie, Ellie, Samantha, Isaac, Elijah, Abigail, Minna, Nehemiah, Anders, Ivar, Haakon, McKenna and Selah; sisters: Helen Ann Jungbluth and Sandra (Frank) Bertsch; sister-in-law: Sonja Java; forever friend: Alice Kabeary; cousins, nieces and nephews, her “adopted” children, and numerous friends.

The family would like to thank Joyce’s wonderful and caring neighbors, who also kept her driveway cleared in the winter, and friends and young families, who visited with her, brightening the sometime long days.

A private family burial took place on April 8, 2020, at Riverside Cemetery in Grantsburg. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at Grace Baptist Church. Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Grantsburg.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 2:00 PM at Grace Baptist Church in Grantsburg.

In Joyce’s words: “We’ve much to be thankful for but the greatest is that ‘He loved us before we loved Him’ (I John 4:19) and had a plan so we can appear before Him one day with clean hearts and no excess baggage. He took my sins away and I was ‘washed white as snow’ (Isaiah 1:18)….I belong to Jesus!”