William Joyce Obituary

William Joyce, Lt. C.P.D. Ret., dearly beloved husband of the late Rose M. Gilhooly Joyce; devoted father of Joan (Fred) Pearson, Rosemary (Bill) Olson, William E. (Diane) Joyce Jr. Director of Public Safety S.C.H.P.D., Kathleen (Leonard) Kalvaitis and Patricia (Steve) Flounders; loving grandfather of 14; great-grandfather of one; dear brother of Lucille (the late Harold) O'Malley, Robert (Josephine) Joyce and the late Henry (the late Helen) Joyce, the late Anne (the late Joseph) Szeliga, the late Violet and the late Edna Joyce; fond uncle and great-uncle of many. Visitation Thursday 3 to 9 p.m. Funeral Friday 9:45 a.m. from The Andrew J. McGann & Son Funeral Home, 10727 S. Pulaski Rd., to Queen of Martyrs Church for Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment St. Mary Cemetery. For info call 773-ST3-7700.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chicago Tribune from Mar. 8 to Mar. 9, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for William Joyce

11 Entries

Bill Joyce

March 16, 2006

Do great men create great events or do great events create great men? I believe that great men know how to respond to great events.

Our father was born sixth in a family of seven. He was many things in life, a baker, a truck driver, a sailor, a police officer, a landlord, a builder, a handyman but most of all, he was a family man.

Our dad was a member of the greatest generation. On the Monday morning following Pearl Harbor, our father was compelled to go out and serve his country. Like many of the greatest generation our dad joined the U.S. Navy. He served his country with great pride. He served in the Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal. He was an amphibious assault vessel driver bringing troops from the ship to the shore. While in the jungles of the South Pacific, he was stricken with malaria.

Between December 1941 and December 1946, 16.1 million Americans served our nation in armed forces throughout the world. 412,000 Americans lost their lives as a result of combat or related incidents and 671,000 suffered wounds.

If not for this generation, we probably would not enjoy the freedoms we have today. These Americans saved our world. They are true heroes. Our dad often told us of his being home sick during the war and most of all, he missed Christmas. After the war, he returned home to find that his mother and father kept the Christmas tree up for him; I believe it was March before he returned. Like many of the returning military men of The Greatest Generation, our father met his future wife. He married on his 24th birthday and on December 26th 1947 he answered another call to public service, this time he became a Police Officer. My dad loved his country, the flag, and the City of Chicago. Our dad had great pride in the fact that he was a Chicago Police Officer. He felt a sense of honor, dignity and duty each time he pinned the star on his chest. He loved wearing his uniform. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant and retired as the Commanding Officer of The Traffic Records Section.

While going through the pictures for our memory boards at the funeral home, one thing that stood out more than anything else in all of the photos was our father’s smile. His smile was his trademark. No matter what obstacle life put before him, he conquered it and smiled about it with satisfaction. He was brave, strong, loyal, dedicated but most of all a loving husband, father, grand father and great grandfather. He loved and was loved by his sisters and brothers; nieces and nephews. He loved a party. He loved music and to dance. He loved Florida, first his camper then mobile home and finally the Park model house. He loved his family He sang to each of us and his grandchildren and great grand child. He never hesitated to help any one. In his own way, he was a visionary. He constantly worked on the six flat at 3346 Wallace. That was like living with 5 other families. He planned our Fort Atkinson summer home in his head. In 1956, along with his father, brothers, Bud, Bob and his Uncle John, he began to build his dream home. By working on every other weekend and two weeks each summer it only took about 8 years before we could stay in the house. But, he didn’t quit. It took time, but he did it. He even put an addition on the house. In his spare time he was rising through the ranks of the police department and raising 5 children, not to mention working for Mayor Daley and Nativity of Our Lord Church.

Lake Koshkonong, in Fort Atkinson Wisconsin, played a major role in our family’s life. As a young teenager our father went to the lake with his mother, father, sister, Lucille, her fiancé Harold and Harold’s brother, Bill. The two Bills became instant lifelong best friends. During the war Bill O’Malley and Bill Joyce served in the military, and through the grace of God, both came home safe. It had to be fate that two best friends met two sisters. Soon, the best friends became Brothers-in-Law.

As I mentioned before, our dad loved Christmas, especially Christmas Eve. My dad once told my wife Diane, “I don’t care where you spend Christmas Eve as long as it is with us.” In our youth, Christmas Eve was spent with the entire Joyce family, the O’Malley’s and Szeliga’s and Christmas Day was with the Gilhooly’s, O’Malley, Boticas and Barrets. Santa Clause always made a guest appearance and I noticed that he bore a strange resemblance to my dad; he loved that job especially when the grandkids came along.

It’s easy to tell stories about my mom and dad. They were truly incredible people. They lived life to the fullest; they were great parents and great people. As I sum this up, Joan, Kathy, Patty and I want to express our Deepest appreciation to Rosemary, Bill, Bill Jr, Kristine, Elizabeth and of course Willie, for opening their home to dad these past months and allowing him to live with family.

Once again I would like to refer to a poster on the wall at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison Wisconsin. While waiting for our dad to return from open heart surgery, I passed the poster about a hundred times. The poster read “You can complain that there are thorns on a rose bush or you can rejoice that there are roses on a thorn bush… You decide.” I know that that my dad rejoiced that there was one great rose on the thorn bush.

Thank you, all of you, for sharing our loss and giving us support.

Our Parents

March 10, 2006

Judy Silekis

March 10, 2006

To the Joyce Family,

Ed, LaVerne and Judy Silekis expresses their deepest sympathy to all of you on the passing of your wonderful father. We all go back many years growing up in Bridgeport and have many fond memories of our weekend trips to Wisconsin. Your father and mother were such gracious hosts and always made us feel so welcomed. My parents are saddened that they cannot be with you today, but due to ill health they are unable to pay their respects in person. Please know that you are all remembered in our prayers and that your parents will live on in our memories. God bless you all. Judy Silekis

Marlene Schroeder (Jacobson)

March 9, 2006

I have wonderful memories of your parents and am very sad to hear about your dad's passing. Your parents were very special people. I was always made to feel as if I were part of your family and am grateful for the times we spent together. Your parents were kind, considerate, encouraging and helpful and I am glad they were a part of my life. Please accept my deepest sympathies and hold on to those memories.

March 9, 2006

Dear Bill,

Joan and I wish to extend our sincere condolences to you and your family.

Jim O'Grady (Springhill, Florida)

Elizabeth Olson

March 8, 2006

This is for you grandpa. I found this poem on-line and it was perfect I love you so much grandpa and I am going to miss our late night talks and tucking you into bed. I know that you are with Grandma again. I wish I would have gotten to see you one last time and another chance to say good bye. You will always have a special place in my heart.

Grandpa

Growing up you were always there

Each and every day showing me that you cared.

Spoiling me every chance that you had.

Letting me know that is okay to be sad.

After school, you checked on us day after day,

Listening to every word we had to say.

Each moment we spent together

Will be special to me forever.

Days spent shopping or mowing

Were as precious as when it was snowing.

My best memories are those at the time of year

When we decorated for Christmas with care.

Christmas magic soared through the air

While you taught me how to share.

Twenty-one years I kept you in my sight.

Now all I can do is hold the memories tight.

The day your soul drifted high

My heart knew, and all I could do was cry.

A half hour later, I was coming out of class

To hear my mom in a state of distress.

When my ears heard what she had to say.

We both broke down into tears.

A part of my heart left with you.

The part that told me what to do.

The minute I heard, I became confused and lost.

I went to the church where God I sought.

God told me something I did not know.

I have your hand on my shoulder telling me where to go.

I once thought the part of me that went with you

Was lost forever and would not be put to good use.

I now realize that I never lost part of my soul.

I simply shared it with you to keep us whole.

You watched over me while you were here

And I know that you will watch over me from up there.

Grandpa, to me you meant the world.

Now with you I can live in the world.

A sign of Christmas and peace is the dove.

You taught me that to have peace one must have love.

Therefore with love one can have peace.

Together, we will indulge in life -God's feast.

My love for you, Grandpa, will soon project

Into the love you will help me use to protect.

Ron and Carol Saxton

March 8, 2006

Rosemary,

Carol and I send our deepest sympathy to you, Bill and your family on the passing of your Father. Know that thoughts, prayers and the support of the families of Delta Company are with you all.

With sympathy and in friendship,

Ron and Carol Saxton

Kenneth Hawes

March 8, 2006

Darlene and Kenneth Hawes are sorry to hear about the passing of Bill, we go back a long time, God Bless

Thomas Hawkinson

March 8, 2006

Becky and I wish to express our deepest sympathy to Rosemary and Bill.

robert and aida monks

March 8, 2006

Bill,

Sorry to hear about the loss of your father. You are in our prayers.

Bob and Aida

Richard & Ginger Houlihan

March 8, 2006

Ginger and I are very sorry to hear about the passing of Bill. He was a class act and a gentleman at all times. The Joyce Family has our deepest sympathies, and he will be in our prayers

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results