Joyce L. Phillips

PORTAGE  –  Joyce L. Phillips, age 85, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 2, 2011, at American Way in Portage.

Joyce was born on May 24, 1926, in the Town of Bristol in Dane County, the daughter of Stanley and Carrie (Vincent) Hanson.  She married Duane Phillips of Oxford in 1946.  Together they enjoyed their home in rural Oxford where they raised their two sons, Doug and Terry.  Before moving to Waunakee, they spent several years traveling and enjoying life after Duane retired.  After Duane passed away, Joyce moved to DeForest and then to Heritage House in Portage where she had wonderful care for the last four years.  Joyce enjoyed dancing, traveling, gambling, and working in her home and her yard.  Most of all she loved sharing time with her family and friends.             

Joyce is survived by her two sons, Doug (Linda) Phillips, of Portage, and Terry (Molly) Phillips; two grandsons, Scott (Traci) Phillips, of Madison, and Christopher (Amy) Phillips, of Appleton; five great-grandchildren, Emily, Wesley, Nathan, Graycin, and Marek; three sisters, Helen Oliver of Janesville, Shirley Gay, of Portage, and Wanda Kaufman, of Janesville; one brother, Vern (Ethel) Hanson, of Baraboo, other relatives and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Duane in 1997, three sisters, and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, December 7, 2011at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage with Rev. Tom Countryman officiating.  Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery, in Poynette.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Special thanks to the staff at Heritage House, SouthernCare Hospice, and American Way for providing wonderful care and support.  When her time had arrived, the window was opened so her soul was released.