Joyce B. Blaken, age 79, of Melrose, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, Sunday, June 28, 2020, after a long battle with Multiple Myeloma blood cancer.

Joyce was born September 14, 1940 to Edwin and Norma (Johnson) Berg in Black River Falls, WI.  She attended grade school in Franklin and junior high and high school in Melrose, graduating in 1958.  She married Donald Amidon, August 23, 1958, and he preceded her in death on August 12, 1968.  She married Thomas Blaken on September 8, 1971 and they later divorced.

Mom was a hard worker, strong and independent.  Her many careers included 10 years at the Arrow Shopper; Town Clerk of the Town of Franklin on two separate occasions totaling 15 years; Town Clerk of the Town of Irving for 10 years; and 17 years at TRW Automotive in Galesville, WI retiring in 2007.  She served on the North Beaver Creek Lutheran Church Council and the Cemetery Association.  She also took part in readying the churches for their 150^thanniversary celebration in 2009.  She headed up the North Beaver Creek quilting group for many years.  She enjoyed going to rummage sales in search of quilting fabric, and was very thankful for the many donated items received that she used to cut out hundreds of blocks for quilt tops.  She would get the quilt tops and bottoms ready for the great group of ladies that would tie them and finish the edges, readying them for shipment for Lutheran World Relief.  The goal each year was to make 75-100 quilts.  She put her heart and soul into this project for many years and was truly saddened when she could no longer work on the quilts.

Mom enjoyed riding along with Mike and John when they hauled milk or corn and would keep them company and catch up on things.  She also enjoyed attending as many of her grandkids’ sporting and school events as she could.  She loved watching Brewer and Packer games but often questioned some of the management decisions.  She was excited to take in her first Brewer game at Miller Park in 2018.

Joyce is survived by four children, Michael (Lynn) Amidon of Onalaska, Linda (Lenny) Berg of Holmen, Susan Kyser of Sparta, and John (Jill) Blaken of Holmen; her sister, Elaine Berg, of Eau Claire; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Matthew (Shelly) Amidon and children, Tanner and Olivia; Heidi Davis and children, Stesha and Aven; Kyle (Nikki) Berg and children, Jordan, Annalyn, and Lucy; Ryan (Jeannie) Berg; Erin Berg (friend Tyler); Bailey (Cory) Hershkowitz; and Nicholas Kyser; along with other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Norma Berg; her husband Donald; an infant twin son, Josh Thomas Blaken; her brothers, Duane Berg and Dennis Berg; and special friend, Dean Sampson.

We want to thank the Gundersen Lutheran Oncology team for their wonderful care and compassion during mom’s many visits and treatments; and we are also very grateful for mom’s kind and compassionate Hospice team that enabled us to keep her in-home these last months.

A drive-by visitation will be held from 1-3 on Sunday, July 5, at North Beaver Creek Lutheran-White Church located at W10767 Cty Rd C, Ettrick WI.  Private family graveside services to follow.

Memorials preferred to North Beaver Creek Lutheran-White Church Well Fund, rural Ettrick, WI.

Mom, we have learned to be hard working, strong and independent like you and we will miss you dearly, but we are comforted that you are no longer in pain.

“A Mother holds her children’s hands for a while…and their hearts forever.”