Joyce Ann (Kontny) Karling of Bessemer, MI, passed away Sunday, October 12 at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Center in Seymour, WI, with her family by her side.

Joyce was admitted to Aspirus Grand View Hospital on May 20, 2025, and  transferred four days later to Aspirus Wausau Hospital; 57 days, total.  During her stay, she fought (and won) many battles.  Once stable, she was relocated to Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Center to regain her strength.  She was the strongest woman we have ever known; a true Norwegian.

Joyce was born on July 30, 1938, to Stella Louise (Albertson) Kontny and Frank Felix Kontny in Mellen, WI.   Because her father managed various dams in northeast Wisconsin, Joyce attended various schools  - Cozy Valley, Mellen, and South Shore High School, where she graduated in 1956.  South Shore High, in Port Wing, is where she met and became lifelong friends with Shirley Kiser (later Shirley Roseland).  Port Wing was also the location of Everett Fisheries, where she worked her first job as a herring choker.

Upon her graduation, the family moved to Bessemer, MI, where her father was promoted to district manager of the Lake Superior District Power Company.  Joyce's first and greatest desire was to continue to study music, as her skills and passion for music and piano became remarkable.  This was a luxury education at this time, and so her dreams were not able to be fully realized.  She instead enrolled in The Duluth School of Beauty Culture in Duluth, MN.  After earning her license of cosmetology, she began hairdressing at "The French" in Ironwood, MI, where she met and became great friends with Ruth Karling.  Ruthie introduced Joyce to her little brother, Eddie, while he was home on leave from the Marine Corps., having  no idea at the time that she and Eddie would  be married at Bessemer's St. Sebastian Church on September 21, 1963.

Eddie and Joyce celebrated 42 years of marriage before Eddie passed away in October of 2005.  They raised three children, they survive: Mark (Kathy), and son Christopher Taisuke Karling, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; Karla (Sean Hall), and daughter Kate Joy Karling, Bessemer, MI; JoLee (Tom), and children Ellery and Tommy Romanowski, and Ashley (Romanowski) Monette, (John) and children Scarlett and Sophie Monette. Also surviving are her brother Dennis (Sue) Kontny and nephew Denny (Missy) and her sister's family, Kevin (Courtney) Erickson and Logyne, Louise (TJ) Erickson and Timmy, as well as all but one of Eddie's siblings' children.

Joyce possessed a wealth of talents, knowledge, and skills.  The short list of her accolades includes: sewer and seamstress, beautician, wig maker, Sarah Coventry Jewelry saleswoman/branch manager, bookkeeper, librarian, avid reader, gifted pianist and musician, accompanist of memorable PTO variety and shows, Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet connoisseur, cook, and exemplary baker.  Following her career as a hairdresser, stay at home mom, and jewelry sales, Joyce worked at the Bessemer Public Library, spanning 30 years.  There, you could find her playing beautiful music on her boombox, recommending books to regulars, nurturing the young bookworms, scanning in returned books, or typing at the typewriter.  She also worked for three decades preparing bookkeeping for several area businesses (including Tamarack Retreat Therapeutic Massage), at General Accounting Services.  She made countless connections at her places of employment that she regarded as treasured gold for as long as she lived; no special moment or kindness was ever forgotten.

Family.  This was Joyce's greatest passion. The joy she found in attending the grandchildren's music, dance, and theater productions made everyone's joy so much more meaningful. She travelled countless miles over the years to attend as many events in person as possible. She was their biggest fan.  Even livestreaming swimming and football brought this woman joy.

Humble servant.  She was selfless, always putting other's needs before her own, right up to her last day with us.  No matter what life threw at us, we always had the reassurance of her love, kindness, and helping in any way she could.

Our loss is enormous.  The thought of her reunion with countless special people that have passed on before her is what gives us some peace.  Eddie, all of his siblings, their spouses, and his parents; her mom and dad, her grandparents, her sister Rita Oman and brother-in-law, Red Oman, special friend John Roseland and his son Jeffrey, her special uncles and aunts, her nephews Ryan Kontny and Andrew Kaczmarek, and her grandchildren, Clara Joy Romanowski and Timothy Edward Karling.

From all of us who must now live without you:

"As long as the sun shines…

the wind blows…

the rain falls…

You will live on inside of me forever

for that is all my heart knows."

A private funeral Mass at St. Sebastian Church and burial at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer were celebrated on Saturday November 1st. Thank you, Jerald Rocco, of Lakeside Memorial Chapel, for your impeccable and compassionate assistance with this sacred day.