Obituary
M. Joyce Weise
M. Joyce Weise, 86, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2021. She was born to Dorothy Lillian Thompson and Leslie Blaine Thompson and grew up in the Viroqua and La Crosse, Wisconsin area. After she graduated from Logan High School in 1952, she then pursued a nursing degree at St Francis School of Nursing; but postponed her degree after marrying Carl August Weise in 1953; they later divorced. In 1980 she married Chuck Riglemon and they later divorced.
Many years later she graduated from Western Wisconsin Technical College with an Associate Degree in nursing; she later earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Texas, Arlington. Her career as a nurse took her to several states. Upon retirement she moved back to the La Crosse area. In retirement she served as President of the local chapter of the Alzheimer Association, as well as becoming a member of the Board of Trustees of the Greater Wisconsin Alzheimer Association. She also worked as Chief Election Inspector, served as president of the La Crosse chapter of the AARP and was active in the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE).
Joyce is survived by a sister Beverly Pollock; a brother James Thompson; her six children. Daughter Carla Pena Pena granddaughter Luisa Pena Pena. Daughter Karen Walchak, grandson Martin Walchak (wife Nicole) great grand-daughter Sophia Walchak. Grand-daughter Dayna Walchak (fiancé Christopher Schmitt) Nancy Weise, grandson Nathan Weise great grandsons Leo Weise, Felix Weise. Son David Weise. Son Timothy Weise (wife Krissy) grand-daughter Amethyst Brown (husband Kevin) great grandson Levi Brown, great grand-daughter, Trinity Brown, great grand-daughter Kayla Brown. Grand-daughter Ruby Cox (husband Tyler), great grandson, Nathan Cox and great grand-daughter Elizabeth Cox. Grand- daughter Josephine “Jade” Weise. Son Thomas Weise.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Pat Nelson Coda, Janice Boyd, Donald Thompson, brother-in-law Lyman Pollock and a grandson Benjamin Walchak.
She was greatly loved and will be forever missed.
We would like to thank the ER staff at Mayo, all the staff on the 9th floor of Mayo, the Palliative Care Team especially Rhonda Sallaway. A special thanks to the Hospice nurses of Mayo who moved mountains to get Mom home.
Donations can be made to Friends of PBS Wisconsin, Western Technical College, and Onalaska United Methodist Church.
Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family.
Joyce was a very special and wonderful friend to me in Texas. We worked together (both of us nurses) at the VA Hospital in Marlin, Texas. No matter where she went we always stayed in touch with each other. I loved her like a sister; she was one in a million. I have a message on my phone when she had called me and I wasn’t home and I just cannot delete it because she said she would call me later an I love you. Even though Joyce was 86 years old she was sharp as a tack. She was a loyal and faithful Christian and friend. My heart is broken but I am thankful to God that she didn’t have to suffer long and God was merciful and took her on home to be with him. I will always love you Joyce and your family. I was so blessed to be able to call her my dear friend. RIP my dear sweet friend; I am going to miss our phone calls. Love you Joyce, Sharon Van Dyck, David (my son) Beverly (my daughter). I’ll see you again someday.
Thank you for sharing your loving and tender memories.
With deepest sympathy, sharing in your sorrow and wishing you strength and peace in the days ahead. I just had called and talked with her last week. I will miss our calls and many years of friendship greatly. You will never be forgotten Joyce. Love to your family and RIP
Dear Weise’s
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Your mom/grandma was a wonderful person and will be missed. She touched all who knew her with her bright personality. I will miss going to plays with her and hanging out at Nancy’s pool.
Hi Dixie,
Thank you for sharing your kind and thoughtful words.
To the family of Joyce Weise
I only knew Joyce for the past 7 years, but she was always a bright light whenever I saw her. She and Donna welcomed me when I came to live in the apartment building. I think of her often and miss seeing her so very much!!
Dear Joyce, I miss you so much. You were such a fantastic person, and left a mark on each life you touched. I am eternally grateful to have known you and to have called you friend. I miss our chats and laughs together. And occasional rants about the Packers. I’d dearly love to hear your thoughts about them now. Rest in joy sweet lady. Your memory lives in our hearts, until we meet again.