Joyce Arbutus Franzoi (nee, Bergdahl), loving wife of Louis Franzoi and mother of Susan DeVet and Stephen and Randy Franzoi, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2020 at the age of 92 in Palm Bay, Florida where she had lived with Louis since 1984.
Joyce was born on November 19, 1927 in Marinette, Wisconsin to Reuben and Mae (Carlson) Bergdahl. The family moved to Kingsford and Joyce graduated from Kingsford High School in 1946 and soon earned her diploma at Upper Peninsula Beauty Academy and began working as a beautician in Iron Mountain. Joyce first met Louis at the house that her older sister was renting from Louis' parents and when the two met again a few days later outside Kresge's Store in downtown Iron Mountain they went on their first date at the Braumart Theater.
Joyce and Louis were married at the Lutheran Church on September 18, 1948, which was also Louis' birthday. During their childhood, her children were awakened every school morning by their mother shouting up the stairs "Daylight in the swamp!!!". Perhaps more fondly, they also recall that whenever their mother would get excited about something (which was often!), she would exclaim, "Holy Mackinaws!"
After lovingly raising her three children, Joyce worked as a head cashier at ShopKo until her retirement. During her 36 years in Florida, Joyce enjoyed golfing, and knitting warm clothes for her grandchildren "up North" and she continued to bowl in a local league into her late 80's. One of Joyce's essential qualities was her love of children, which she retained even though her long ordeal with Alzheimer's.
Joyce was preceded in death by her mother, father, brother Roland and sister Virginia and daughter-in-law Cheryl Figg. She is survived by her husband and three children, son-in-law Jim DeVet, daughter-in-law Jennifer Franzoi, brothers Clayton and Calvin Bergdahl, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date due to COVID-19. in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Joyce's name to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (at alzfdn.org).
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