Obit: McNamar, Joyce A. (1921 - 2009)

Contact: R. Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Jennings, Kraft, McNamar, Miller, Stack, Stefancin, Studinger, Wicker, Willger

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., WI), Thursday, January 22, 2009, Online Edition

McNamar, Joyce A. (Wicker) (November 16, 1921 - January 19, 2009)

Former Medford resident Joyce A. McNamar, 87, Schofield, died Monday, Jan. 19 at Allison House Assisted Living in Schofield, where she had resided for the past three months, most recently under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice services.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford, with Father Gerard Willger and Deacon Joe Stefancin officiating. Inurnment will take place at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery at a later date. Pallbearers will be Kevin Kraft, Rob Stack, and Tom, Mike and Dan Jennings.

Visitation will be held at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford on Friday from 9 to 10:45 a.m.

The former Joyce Wicker was born November 16, 1921 in Medford to the late Delmer Eugene and Hilda Cecelia (Studinger) Wicker. She attended Holy Rosary Catholic School in Medford, was a 1939 graduate of Medford High School and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Milwaukee Secretarial School.

On March 10, 1941 in Dubuque, Iowa, she married her high school sweetheart, Lester "Les" M. McNamar, who preceded her in death on October 13, 1942. After her husband's death, she worked for many years at The Star News in Medford and later held the position of Taylor County Clerk of Court for 20 years. After her retirement in 1985, she moved to her much cherished cottage at Shearer's Lake, where she loved to garden, feed the birds and enjoy the solitude of nature.

She was an accomplished artist, showing and selling many of her paintings and copper-enameled jewelry at the budding Wausau Festival of the Arts. She also enjoyed playing bridge, golfing and hunting partridge. Prior to entering Allison House Assisted Living, she resided at Country Gardens in Medford. She was a single mother, long before it became common and did a remarkable job of raising her daughter by herself. She met the many challenges of her life with a strong faith in God that serves as a lasting role model for her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

Survivors include her daughter, Bonnie (John) Kraft of Wausau; a brother, Patrick (Betty) of Clintonville; four grandchildren, Michael (Christine) Kraft of Denver, Colo., Amy (Rob) Stack and Kevin (Jeana) Kraft, both of Wausau and Jennifer Kraft of Oconomowoc; six great-grandchildren; and nine nieces and 10 nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Ramona (Jim) Miller and her twin, Joan (Tim) Jennings.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Alzheimer's Association Greater WI, 2900 Curry Lane, Suite A, Green Bay, WI 54311, or the American Cancer Society, or Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Allison House in Schofield and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice in Wausau, as well as Country Gardens in Medford for the compassionate, loving care they gave to Joyce over the past 15 months.

Online condolences may be made at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.