Joyce Starkey

Joyce Allard Starkey, loving wife and best friend of Dr. Thomas Starkey, mother of Christopher and Jennifer, passed away at Aspirus Wausau Hospital on April 30th, 2016. Joyce was born in Chicago on November 19th, 1941, the first of three daughters of Harold Frank Allard and Betty Kopaz Allard. She was preceded in death by her parents, and premature baby, David. She is survived by her husband Thomas, her children Chris Starkey of Madison, and Jennifer (Troy) Gutowski of Colorado Springs, CO; her grandchildren Nate, Emma and Josh Munson; and her sisters Jill (Daniel) Ross and Michelle Allard (David McDevitt), and close relative Julie Kipp of Holland, Michigan. Her unique childhood was characterized by attendance at 13 different grade schools, as the family moved frequently due to her father's career as an engineer consultant. In Cleveland, Joyce was a child star with The Cleveland Playhouse, starring in Hansel and Gretel, The Bad Seed, and other plays. After graduating from Loyola University (Chicago), she worked for several years as a hospital microbiologist. On May 23, 1964, she married Thomas Austin Starkey, MD. The couple moved to Denver for one year of Thomas's internship, then moved to Rochester, MN where Thomas completed his fellowship in obstetrics and gynecology at the Mayo Clinic. During their time in Rochester, Joyce and Thomas welcomed their first born, Christopher, in 1966. While Thomas served in the United States Army, they lived in Fort Ord, California for one year. When Thomas was sent as an ob-gyn doctor to Vietnam, Joyce and Chris moved back to Chicago. In the summer of 1970, Joyce moved to Wausau, WI, and was joined by her husband later that year. Their daughter, Jennifer, was born in September, 1971. Joyce was very active in Wausau Community Theatre during the 1970's, appearing in numerous productions, including the role of Nurse Ratchet in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and serving as president of the organization for 2 years. For many years in the 1970's and 1980's, Joyce served as a CCD teacher at St Michael Catholic Church. She was a docent at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in the 1980's and 1990's. She became a Master Gardener in 2000, a hobby she and Thomas enjoyed together. For more than a decade, she served as a "reader" for Saturday afternoon Mass at St. Anne Catholic Church. Joyce's great passions were reading books of all kinds, and cooking. She especially liked mysteries, and was known for reading a book a day. The library staff was kept busy! She was a self taught gourmet chef; old standard recipes and new experimental recipes. Her holiday and "special times" dinners were planned and prepared with great skill, and thoroughly enjoyed by family and friends. Joyce hosted many Wausau Medical Center recruiting parties, and almost as many Green Bay Packer parties. Joyce was a doting mother to Chris and Jenny, and could be counted on for homemade costumes, running them to lessons and activities, and regular home cooked meals. She was immensely proud of them both and it showed. Joyce adored her grandchildren, Nate, Emma, and Joshua, and was much loved by them. "Grammy Pancakes" are at the top of their list of special memories. To her much younger sister, Michelle, Joyce was a second mother. To her middle sister, Jill, she was a role model. After his retirement, Joyce and Thomas traveled extensively, most often through the Notre Dame Travel Club (the "Travelin' Irish"). She especially enjoyed their trip Changing Tides of History - Cruising" the Baltic Sea", featuring talks by Mikhail Gorbachev, Lech Walesa, and Sergie Kruschchev. During their 52 years together, Joyce and Thomas modeled a loving relationship, their marriage exemplifying generosity of spirit, respect, trust, commitment, affection, and faith in one another and God. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at The Church of St. Anne, Wausau. Rev. Matthew Marshall will preside. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau and again on Wednesday from Noon until time of services at the church. Memorial donations may be sent to St. Anne Parish, 700 Bridge Street, Wausau, WI 54401and Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, 1000 Oak Street, Marshfield, WI 54449. The family wishes to thank Joyce's caretakers: Town of Main first responders, Aspirus nurses and doctors who provided superb, compassionate care, Fr. Louis Britto, who administered Last Rites, and her Marshfield Clinic doctors, especially Dr. Ivan Schaller, Joyce's primary physician. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com