Obituary
Sr Joyce Bantle
Sister Joyce Bantle, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, 92, died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse. She was in her 62nd year of religious profession.
Sister Joyce, a lifelong resident of La Crosse, was born April 13, 1922, and baptized at Holy Trinity Church. She attended St. Mary’s School, then Aquinas High School. After graduating from high school, she attended St. Francis School of Nursing, and then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Viterbo College (University). Later, she earned a Master of Science in nursing degree from Indiana State University. Her career in nursing spanned 46 years at St. Francis Hospital (Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare), La Crosse, as staff nurse, private duty nurse, head nurse, assistant director of nursing service, assistant clinical instructor in emergency nursing, director of clinical nursing practice, administrative assistant to director of nursing, assistant administrator of patient care. In 1988, she became vice-president of mission effectiveness. Sister Joyce retired in 1994, and spent five years as director of health care ministry at St. Joseph’s Cathedral parish, La Crosse. Because of permanent disability after a severe car accident, she retired at St. Rose Convent in 2003, then to Villa St. Joseph in 2013.
Sister Joyce is survived by her Franciscan community; her nephew, John in Waco, Texas; and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her sister, Darlene (Bennie) Engelke.
Sister Joyce requested a natural burial. A prayer service will be held at 4 p.m. this evening, Aug. 16, at Villa St. Joseph. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug., also at Villa St. Joseph. Burial will follow immediately after the Mass at the natural burial plot at the Villa.
Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market St., La Crosse, Wis., 54601-4782.
You were a member of our family from Sept 14th; 1964 on; Sister DeLourdes. You brought comfort; love; and joy to all of us for all those years. Our last visit at the Villa in August of 2014 meant so much to me. Thank you for 51 years of friendship and kindness. I often thought of your invitation to come for a couple days visit with you there. Now; I will visit you in my daily prayers. You are with Mom, Dad, Frank; Joe; Chelsea; Ian and Danial. You are home.