Joy F. Patterson

Joy Frances Forster Patterson passed away peacefully on October 8, 2026, just three days shy of her 95th birthday. She is remembered by those who loved her as a wonderful mother, cherished friend, and creative spirit.

She was born October 11, 1931 to George Francis and Joy Ella Andrews Forster, spending her early years in Michigan and Illinois. After graduating from high school in LaGrange, IL, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison (the alma mater of both of her parents). She graduated in 1953 with a BA in French and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She then continued her studies, including a year in Strasbourg, France as a Fulbright Scholar, completing an MA in French in 1957.

It was in Madison that she met Charles Duane Patterson at Pres House, the Presbyterian student church. Joy and Duane dated throughout college and married in 1955; they were married for 65 years. After their wedding, Joy and Duane spent two years in Red Bank, NJ, while Duane served as an officer in the Army at Fort Monmouth. During this time, Joy worked as a clerk for the US Army. When they returned to Wisconsin in 1957, Joy worked for the Social Security Administration in Madison while Duane finished his law degree at UW. The two moved to Wausau in the summer of 1959. Duane began his legal career with a Wausau firm, while Joy taught French at UW-Marathon County. They made their home in Wausau together for over 60 years.

Joy’s academic career was short-lived, as she and Duane soon welcomed their first child, Liz. Joy turned to full-time motherhood, and two other children, Cathy and Tom, arrived over the next few years. Joy made a loving home for her family, full of music and books, homemade Halloween costumes and creative playthings.

Musical interests and a quiet but steady faith shaped Joy’s engagement in the Wausau community and beyond. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Wausau for 66 years and sang in the choir there for over 50 of them. She also served as an elder and participated in many other ways in the life of the congregation. She sang for four decades with Wausau Pro Musica, through which she made many friendships. Joy and Duane appreciated and supported many arts and music organizations in the Wausau area.

Joy’s creativity blossomed in poetry and song, with a special gift for writing hymns and other ecclesiastical music. She wrote hundreds of hymn tunes and texts, and many of these are published in hymnals across a variety of Christian denominations. Her poems and hymn texts often lifted up the beauty of nature, the importance of hope, and the call to care for others. In the 1980s, she served on a number of committees of the Presbyterian Church USA at the national level, including the committee that put together the Presbyterian Hymnal published in 1990. She was also a long-time member of The Hymn Society of the US and Canada, and she served on the Pres House board.

Beyond her music, Joy had a zest for life and relished a good pun. She and Duane travelled extensively, visiting all 50 states in the US and many other countries. Joy also took pleasure in spending time in the beauty and quiet of the cottage Up North. She enjoyed visiting with her children, other family members, and friends, and took pride in her favorite (and only) grandchild, Charlie. Ill health in the last years of her life limited her activities, but she continued to appreciate music, her friends, and her family to the end.

Joy was predeceased by her parents, her older sister Elizabeth Forster Glidden, and her “Best Beloved”, Duane. She is survived by her children Elizabeth (Michael Hermsen), Catherine (David Wood), and Thomas (Mark Jakusz); a grandson, Charles Wood; and a niece and nephew. Joy’s family would like to thank TLC caregivers, the staff at Azura/Dimensions Living of Wausau, and Interim Healthcare Hospice for their dedicated care of Joy over the last decade.

A memorial service to celebrate Joy’s life will be held later this year at First Presbyterian Church, 406 Grant Street, Wausau. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a memorial gift may give to First Presbyterian Church of Wausau, the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, or the musical or charitable organization of your choice.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com.