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Joyce E. Buss, 94, longtime resident of Caroline, passed away at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano on November 19, 2024 after a short illness.

Joyce was born on September 16, 1930 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to Irma (Hoffmann) and Roy Jacobson. Early in Joyce’s life she moved with her family to a farm near Winneconne, Wisconsin.

She attended school in Winneconne and was salutatorian of her high school class. After high school she attended Oshkosh State Teachers College (now UW-Oshkosh) and earned a state teaching certificate.

Upon graduation she accepted a position with the school system in Marion, Wisconsin and taught elementary education full time for several years until her children arrived.  Thereafter, she worked as a substitute teacher and as a teachers’ aide for two years before retirement. As a teacher she met her future husband, Frank, who was a member of the Marion school board. Frank was drafted into the Marine Corps, but Joyce and Frank corresponded for the two years that he was away. They resumed dating when he returned, and they were married on August 14, 1954, in Manawa, Wisconsin. They were married for 66 years until Frank’s passing in 2020. Joyce and Frank raised two children, Kathy and Steve.

Throughout her life Joyce believed strongly in service and helping others. She was a charter member and past president of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary in Caroline. She led the local United Way campaign. She volunteered for a county mental health program and served on the parent-teacher organization of her children’s school. Many of her volunteer and service activities were associated with Zion Lutheran Church in Caroline where she was a member from the time she moved to Caroline until her death.

Joyce taught Sunday school for over a quarter of a century and served as superintendent for many years. The church formally recognized her service to the Sunday school in 2005. She was an active member and officer of American Lutheran Church Women and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Women. She served as Zion’s financial secretary and coordinator of the church’s Colorama Trail Ride concession stand in Caroline. She helped organize trips to entertain the residents at the Pine Manor Healthcare Center (now The Pines). She served on Zion’s Altar Guild and as a volunteer at the church thrift shop in Marion.

Joyce enjoyed and supported public radio and public television. She was an avid reader. She was a Packer fan and an excellent cook and baker. She enjoyed the family cats, Buck, Bean, and Piggie. She was a good bowler, participating in couple’s & women’s bowling leagues. She enjoyed nature, music, family reunions in Oshkosh and Winneconne, museums, antique and thrift shops, visiting family (children & grandchildren) in Madison and Wauwatosa, and attending Caroline Cougars baseball games and get-togethers afterward.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, and her brother, Dixon Jacobson. Joyce is survived by her children: Kathy (Larry) Plaster of DeForest; Steve Buss (Jan Liebhart) of Madison and her grandchildren, Bryan (Dorota) Plaster of Minneapolis and Melissa Plaster of DeForest.

The family extends its gratitude to the compassionate staff at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano and ThedaCare Hospice and offers special thanks and heartfelt appreciation to Sue Clauson and Bev and Larry Gruetzmacher for their concern and assistance to Joyce over the past years. This enabled her to remain in her home, as she wished.

Memorial services will be held 11 AM on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Zion Lutheran Church, Caroline, with the Rev. Jim Folz officiating. Inurnment will take place following the service at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Caroline.

Visitation will take place at the church on Saturday from 10 AM until the time of service.

The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville is assisting the Buss family with arrangements.

An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.