MARENISCO, Mich. - Joyce Marie (nee Grabrick) Conley, age 81, of Marenisco, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield, Wisconsin. She had been hospitalized for complications of the later stages of autosomal polycystic kidney disease after doing peritoneal dialysis at home for several years. She was a tenacious fighter.

Joyce was born to George and Myrtle (nee Keebaugh) in McMillan Township, Ontonagon County, Michigan. She was the second of eight children. She started her education in the ETC School District and the family moved to the Thomaston area where she attended and graduated from Wakefield School District. Joyce held various jobs over the years, the most recent in Marenisco at the Kimberly Clark offices before the sawmill shut down. She took many courses at GCC but did not earn a degree.

She was a caregiver for elderly family members such as her stepfather, Clarence Morrison, her father-in-law, Aster Conley, and her mother, Myrtle. After Clayton retired they traveled and enjoyed winters in the southwest states. Family and friends were often gifted with mittens, hats, dishcloths, afghans, socks, slippers and baby outfits that had been knitted or crocheted with love.  She was also a great baker and cook.

In March of 1962, Joyce and Clayton were married in Marenisco's little brown Presbyterian Church. They were fortunate to have shared 62 years together.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Clayton Conley of Marenisco; their four children, Connie (Jim) Hellman, Jeff (Tracy) of Michigan, Kirk (Sue) of Wisconsin, and Travis Conley of Minnesota; grandchildren, Krista Schindler, Laura Brinkley, Richard Noyes, Samantha Sieraski, Matthew Conley, Paige Hooks, Sean, Jason, Angela, Caitlin, Kara and Bjorn Conley; great-grandchildren, Matthew Gendron, Holly Noyes, Halia and Brenden Hill, Thayne, Christian and Zoe Schindler, Gabriel Dobson, Braydon, Emersyn and Masyn Rosga, Paityn and Riley Conley; and a great-great-grandson, Greyson Schindler and one on the way. She is also survived by her siblings, Linda Lutwitzi, George (Dottie) Grabrick of Minnesota, Phillip Grabrick of Wyoming, John (Christina) Grabrick of Wisconsin, and Gail (Eric) Taylor of Wisconsin; and her brother-in-law, Harvey Conley. She is further survived by a multitude of nephews and nieces as well as cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Donald Grabrick and Gloria Norby; her brothers-in-law, John (Donna) Conley, Robert Norby, Stanley Mrozinski and Joseph Lutwitzi; and her sisters-in-law, Loretta Grabrick, Beverly Conley and Gerri Conley.

The family would like to thank the Marshfield Medical Centers as well as Davita Dialysis in Minocqua, Wisconsin, for the care they provided.

Services to celebrate Joyce's life are being planned and announcements will be made closer to that time.

It is suggested that memorial donations be directed toward the American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.