Joyce Tavarez

Joyce Tavarez, age 73, died peacefully surrounded by family at her home in Sheboygan on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Joyce was preceded in death by her infant sister Janet, her daughters Inez and Carmen, and her parents. Joyce is survived by her husband Modesto, her daughter Eva, and her siblings Eileen (Tim) Robinson, Rosemary (Greg) Theisen, John Kleinmann, Wayne (Sue) Kleinmann, Richard (Lori) Kleinmann, Steve (Karyn) Kleinmann.

Joyce was born in Milwaukee June 4, 1947 to Gerald and Loretta (Steger) Kleinmann, she, the oldest of 8, grew up in Menomonie Falls, Allenton, and attended Slinger High School in Wisconsin. Joyce met Modesto Tavarez at a Christian retreat Sept 1967 in Rensselaer, Indiana and were married May 17, 1969 in Menomonee Falls. Joyce and Modesto had 3 daughters, Eva, Inez and Carmen and Joyce and raised their family in Madison, Wisconsin for many years.

Joyce was active in her daughter’s elementary schools and took special pride being able to serve as president of the PTA for Hoyt Elementary School. Joyce and Modesto were active members of Queen of Peace church in Madison and both Eva and Inez attended Queen of Peace elementary. In the early-80s the family moved to a brick one-room schoolhouse Modesto renovated in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Joyce and Modesto hosted many relatives and spent time enjoying the Wisconsin river and community. The family moved back to Madison after a tragic car accident resulted in the death of Inez, Carmen, and serious injury to Joyce. Joyce made a miraculous recovery from a traumatic brain injury at UW Madison and with her characteristic faith, determination and support from many family and friends she improved. Joyce took special pride in volunteering as assistant teachers aid in the Madison school district to help students with special needs. Joyce and Modesto’s home was always open to support family moving to the US and to many nieces and nephews over the years. Joyce and Modesto traveled extensively in the United States and Canada, also to Spain, Italy and throughout the Caribbean including Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic visiting family and exploring. Joyce took great joy in the many memories, photo albums and slide shows of these adventures and how she was often used to “provide scale” to the many photos of buildings Modesto took!

After over 40 years in Madison, Joyce and Modesto retired to Sheboygan. Joyce enjoyed spending time walking near the lake, getting to know the community and was thankful to be able to visit her mother who lived nearby. Joyce was blessed to have support her family and the medical community in Sheboygan, Madison & Milwaukee though her journey with multiple myeloma.

Joyce was loving daughter, big sister, wife, supermom, Tia and friend. She was a kind soul who enjoyed life, selfless in her care for others and devoted to her family and faith. She always persevered. Her family takes comfort in the knowledge she will be welcomed to the table in Heaven by her Mother, Father and two daughters Inez and Carmen.

A funeral service will be held at CRESS FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICE, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, on Friday, April 16, 2021, at 1:00 pm. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, from noon until the time of service.

The memorial service will also be live-streamed via the following link: event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=3b5f130e-f8d4-4a37-8258-9db67cf1bee8

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434