Thomas Patrick Joyce

Thomas Patrick JoyceThomas Patrick Joyce, 86, passed away December 21, 2017. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota in November of 1931 to Thomas J. Joyce and Margaret (Murray) Joyce. An avid ice hockey player, accordion musician as well as an Eagle Scout at the age of 12 years old, Thomas would go on to impress his peers and superiors in the years ahead. Son of a prominent Duluth admiralty lawyer, Thomas would get a chance as a teenager to work as a deck hand on one of many ore boats that traversed the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. These skills and interaction with the other deck hands would serve him well in his future entrepreneurial pursuits.After graduating from the University of Minnesota with an accounting degree and receiving his MBA from Northwestern University, Tom would also receive a military commission into the United States Air Force. As he did in his teenage and college years Tom would continue to excel after his college graduation by his selection as a Special Agent in the US Air Force's Office of Special Investigations (OSI). During his two years of military service Tom was tasked with investigating possible subversive acts by communist sympathizers in the 1950's while being stationed in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Declining further promotion and training in the military Tom pursued his career in business. First hired by then Montgomery Wards as an auditor, he would later be promoted to a merchandiser where he honed his skills in hardware, farm implements and equipment. Accepting other promotions in ever increasing responsibilities in many other corporations including Al Medical, Boise Cascade and Western Auto, he always thought of running his own business. Tom would eventually partner with his late brother Martin J. Joyce to open Longmont's True Value Hardware store in 1972.The store was Tom Joyce's pride and joy and it would remain open along with the addition of an auto center until 1982 at which time it was sold. Tom spent the rest of his years traveling the world and investing in the stock market. He enjoyed skiing, photography, social events with Nonpareil, and participating in the Rocky Mountain Thunderbird Club with his 1965 T-Bird. He recently received his Irish Citizenship by Descent, which meant a great deal to him and he had hoped to travel to Ireland one last time. His final residence was at Brookdale Senior Living Solutions in Longmont, Colorado.Thomas is survived by his daughter, Kathy Rhoades (Patrick), his son, Thomas M. Joyce (Sonji) and two grandchildren, Marissa K. Rodriguez (Christian Caparro) and Thomas T. Joyce. He is further survived by his nieces, Lisa Weeks and Susan Knapp, their families, and his Sister-in-Law Marlys A. Joyce.No service will be held. Cremation entrusted to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. His final resting place will be in Duluth, Minnesota. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share memories and condolences.