Joyce Genevieve Oldham, age 88, of Marshfield, WI, passed away in the early morning of January 8th, 2026 at Marshfield Medical Center.

Joyce was born on October 3rd, 1937, the daughter of Irvin and Hilda (Edens) Vandeberg. She graduated from Neillsville High School in 1955. Pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher, she studied Elementary Education at Wood County Teacher's College from 1955 to 1957. After graduating, she taught for five years at several rural one-room schoolhouses, including Cozy Corner, Spokeville, and Meadow View. She married Donald Richmond in 1958, and for several years they farmed outside of Christie and owned a bar called Don's Pool Hall in Neillsville. They moved to Cabool, Missouri in 1963 but ultimately returned to Wisconsin and opened the D&J Bar, which they ran together until Donald's tragic passing in 1969.

In 1971, Joyce married Gale Oldham. Together, they farmed near Christie and ran the G&J Bar. The couple later moved to Branson, Missouri, where Joyce worked at the Shoji Tabuchi Theater until 2008. She ultimately returned to Wisconsin and worked at Figi’s until her retirement in 2018.

Joyce recalled having a happy childhood and a deep love and admiration for her parents. In her youth, she loved to go dancing on the weekends. She enjoyed doing puzzles, reading (especially novels by Louis L’Amour), and crafting. She often gifted homemade ornaments and embroidered linens to her family and friends. Joyce had a keen interest in genealogy and kept precise, extensive records of her family history. She enjoyed honoring her German heritage through cooking—her potato salad and German-style green beans were especially lauded by her loved ones.

Joyce was a beloved pillar in the lives of everyone around her, and she made friends wherever she went. A devoted Christian, she greatly valued her church family at Zion Community Church. She spent a lot of time making memories with her cousins as a child, as well as in her elder years—even taking a trip to Hawaii with her beloved cousin, Delores. She loved spending time with her friends Freda, Jane, Erford, Todd, Ann, and many others at Parkview Apartments. She always looked forward to Bible Study, Bingo, and other Parkview events. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother who provided support in any way she could, whether driving her grandkids home from school or keeping her cupboards stocked with their favorite snacks. She loved listening to her granddaughters play violin and viola. Joyce was a sports fanatic. She enjoyed watching the Badgers play, whether it was basketball, football, or hockey. You knew better than to call her during a Brewers or Packer game. And she attended as many of her grandchildren’s hockey and football games as she could. She loved to laugh and to sing, and she had a perpetually positive outlook on life. Her radiant laughter and warmth will be remembered and missed by all who knew her.

Joyce is survived by her four children, Barbara (Philip) Richmond of Green Bay, Laurie (Tom) Vanden Elzen of Menasha, Allen (Karen) Oldham of Marshfield, and Kimberly (Mark) Walter of Greenwood. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Spencer Nelson, Kaytin Oldham, Austin Oldham, Nicholas (Chelsea) Perrine, Dominic Perrine, Ethan (Miranda) Perrine, Taylor Perrine, Macy Perrine, Jetta Walter, Bentley Walter, and Cooper Walter. She was very proud to have six great-grandchildren: Eleanor, Kennedy, Madison, Otis, Olive, and Opal.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Richmond; a granddaughter, Claire Nelson; and a great-grandson, Oren Perrine.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Marshfield Medical Center Emergency Room, ICU, and Palliative Care for their compassion and diligence in Joyce’s final days.

Services will be held at Zion Community Church (2106 N Peach Ave) in Marshfield on Friday, January 16. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., and the funeral will begin at 10:30 a.m, followed by a meal at 11:30. Burial will take place at York Center United Methodist Church near Granton, at 2:00 p.m.