Joyce M. Green

Her parents and siblings Ruth (Rasmussen) Ernst, Peter Rasmussen, William Rasmussen, and Paul Rasmussen preceded her in death.

She graduated from Oshkosh Teachers College and spent one year teaching kindergarten before marrying the love of her life, Lawrence James Green, also of Oshkosh, on June 14, 1952. Larry was an officer in the U.S. Navy and he and Joyce embarked on a long and exciting adventure together. Joyce gave birth to children in Guam (Jeffrey Lawrence), California (Susan Marie), Puerto Rico (James William), Oshkosh (Mark Gerard), Bremerton (Mary Meta and Kathryn Ann) and Illinois (Barbara Ellen). She was truly a Navy wife and single-handedly cared for their seven children during Larry’s year-long tours to Antarctica and Vietnam. Joyce was an exemplar as a military spouse.

Following Larry’s retirement from the Navy, Joyce and Larry moved to Longmont, Colorado. By the late 1990s she owned the Patchwork Quilt shop which she ran for 10 years with her business partner. She loved the quilting community and was chairperson for Quilt-A-Fair, the largest quilting and fabric fair in the state, for several years.

She was also a passionate gardener. She received her Master Gardener Certification through Boulder County Extension. When she and Larry needed to move to get more care for Larry, she was in the process of acquiring a daylily in every color for her garden in Mead, Colorado. Sweet William was her favorite plant because it reminded her of her beloved father.

Joyce was an avid knitter. She knit caps for WWII soldiers when she was young and throughout her life continued to knit layettes for newborns, hats and scarves for the homeless in Longmont, and wool nests for bird rescues. She didn’t forget her children and grandchildren, all of whom have at least one handknit hat or scarf from her. We are sure there was love in every stitch.

Joyce received her real estate license in 1993 and worked with Larry and her son, Jim, at Larry Green & Associates for a period of time.

Joyce/Mom/Nama left us on April 21, 2023, surrounded by family to join Jesus and her Larry. She was ever grateful for her daughter, Kate’s, loving and steadfast care over the last 10 years. Joyce leaves behind seven children, 18 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, with another on the way, sisters-in-law MaryLynne Rasmussen, Nancy Rasmussen and Kathy Gall, and numerous nieces and nephews. Her light and love will be dearly missed.

The family is having a private Celebration of Life later this year. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to TRU Community Care Hospice in memory of Joyce Green at https://www.trucare.org/make-a-donation-to-tru/.