Joyce M Swanson

Joyce Swanson, 90, of La Crosse passed away at her home on Friday, January 13, 2017 . She died looking out over her Black River as eagles soared, the ice thickened and the sun set.

She was born September 7, 1926, in Swea City, Iowa, to Arthur and Mildred (Anderson) Holcomb and graduated from Fairmont High School in Fairmont, Minn. Joyce received her bachelor degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, wrapping education around a stint working in Glacier National Park.

Joyce grew up on a farm near Swea City, Iowa, and later moved with her folks to Fairmont and subsequently St Peter, Minnesota.  In 1944, she was offered $2000 and a Model A to play catcher for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) but at 16 her folks thought she was a bit young to leave home for the big leagues.  Later she became a La Crosse champion tennis player and drove her kids all over Wisconsin playing the game.

On March 25, 1951, she married Keith Swanson in Fairmont, Minnesota, and they were together for 56 years until his death in 2007. Joyce worked as a physical education teacher in inner city Pittsburg, signed people up for the census (traveling on her motorcycle) and at the La Crosse county clerk office for 32 years retiring in 2015. She served as President of the YWCA, and enjoyed, encouraged and supported the La Crosse Public Library. Along with conscientiously, kindly, competently and cheerfully raising her three kids, she made friends easily and had a wide circle of valued friends young and old from near and far.

Joyce was a member of English Lutheran Church in La Crosse (where she funded the bell tower last year), skied when she had to and enjoyed boating, her convertibles, friends, people and motorcycle trips, along with tennis, the outdoors and extensive travel with her husband, Keith. She loved teaching and cooking for her three children, her 10 grandchildren and others. She taught us how to enjoy life and take pride in every day. Even during her struggle with ALS she made visits home delightful and rewarding. Her welcoming spirit was enjoyed by those who knew and cared for her.

She is survived by three children, Dr. Scott Swanson and his wife, Connie Wiggert Swanson of Scottsdale, Arizona; Dr.Todd Swanson and his wife, Eileen Gale Swanson of Boise, Idaho, and Dr. Jill Swanson Zietlow and her husband, Dr. Scott Zietlow of Rochester, Minnesota.  She is also survived by her 10 grandchildren, each of whom she loved dearly - Lisa, Brian, Christine, Matthew, Isaac, Sam, Mark, John, Matt and Luke; brother Byron Holcomb and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and husband Keith.

Memorial services will be at English Lutheran Church in LaCrosse, WI on Saturday, March 11 at 11am with Pastor Mark Solyst officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to English Lutheran Church, Minnesota Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television or the La Crosse Public Library.