Joyce Anderson

Joyce Anderson, age 84, passed away with family at her side, on Saturday, April 30 at HospiceCare in Fitchburg. She was born October l0, l926 to John and Hazel (Parks) Ayer in Pillager, Minnesota and graduated from Pillager High School as co-salutorian. She then attended the Minnesota School of Business and graduated as a secretary. She worked at Continental Machines in the drafting department, Savage, Minnesota and then later at Lloyds of London in Minneapolis.
Joyce met her husband, Robert, at a square dance. They were married October l5, l95l and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They bought a farm in Baldwin, WI and were dairy farmers. This was where their two children, Shirley and Donald were born. Later, they moved to Madison and Joyce worked as a waitress at the Rennebohm drug store, on the Square. She worked at a UW-campus cafeteria, the Neckerman Insurance Agency and for Schiffler& Company. Joyce was a cub scout leader for her son and a girl scout leader for her daughter. In 1980 they welcomed a high-school aged foster son, Tri Nugyen, from Vietnam, into the family.
Joyce taught herself to play both the recorder and the piano. She regularly played piano for the mid-week chapel services at Sunny Hill Nursing Home, where her husband has been for the past five years. Other hobbies include knitting lace, sweaters, hats and mittens. She learned how to crochet doilies, embroider and do lace tatting. She loved to read and was very talented at writing poetry.
Joyce has been a member of Bethel Lutheran Church for 44 years. She was a Prayer Friend, taught both Sunday School and Bible School and sang in the Bethel Victory Choir. Joyce enjoyed singing with the Sacred Harp Singers and the Welsh Cambrian Singers. In her later years, she sometimes attended the nearby neighborhood church, Trinity United Methodist.
Joyce is survived by her husband Robert; her daughter Shirley (Dan) Dettmann of Madison, and grandchildren, Josh, Aaron and Melissa; her son Donald (Beth) Anderson of Waunakee, and grandchildren, Cory, Carly, Cale and Casey; a foster son Tri (Addie) Nguyen of Madison, and their children, Timothy and Arielle; a step-daughter Carol (Jim) Brandenburg of Minneapolis, Minnesota and a sister, Edna Lamon of Stafford, Virginia; a special cousin, Delores (Frank) Brown of Madison; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, John Edward Ayer.
The family wishes to thank all the nurses, chaplains, doctors, ministers, volunteers and especially HospiceCare in Joyce's final days.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am,June 29th at Bethel Lutheran Church.