Joyce Plaza

Joyce Mildred "Millie" Plaza, age 83, passed away peacefully at her home in Kronenwetter on February 19, 2025 after an abundant life filled with friends, family and good memories.

Joyce was born in Merrill, WI to Leonard Woller and Mildred Woller on April 24, 1941. She cherished the memories of farm life with her siblings and often referred to that time in her life with fondness. Joyce married Norman Plaza on July 2, 1960 at St. Therese Catholic Church in Schofield, WI. Norm preceded her in death on December 24, 1990.

Joyce raised her family of 5 kids with unwavering care and patience. To say her hands were full is an understatement, but so was her heart. Her consistent love and support served as a guiding light to her children. She gave them the tools to become adults who built careers serving and impacting their communities in positive, lasting ways. She was a homemaker until joining the workforce at Ron's Warehouse/IGA which opened in 1975. Joyce remained an active cashier for 47 years. She loved her job, especially her long-time co-workers and customers and cherished the relationships she made over the years. Joyce was a fixture of checkout lane 4 at IGA. Her loyal customers ignored the open checkout lanes, favoring waiting in line to check in with their compassionate friend Joyce.

Joyce enjoyed spending time with friends on her bowling league at Coral Lanes. She was known to polka with the best of them, and especially enjoyed dancing to the music of Norm's Polka band around the community. Wonderful memories were made both water skiing and snowmobiling up north at Bumpa and Nana's shack in Minocqua. Camping at Trout Lake and time at the Headwaters Resort in Boulder Junction was never less than entertaining. Joyce was known to say "Oh-Geez" - especially if you mentioned how handsome Elvis was in her presence. One of her fondest family memories was taking a four day road trip to Graceland with her children.

After retiring from IGA, Joyce would still make her daily trek to the store for "essential items "and great conversation to stay connected to her community. She treasured her trips to the Log Cabin with her children to enjoy her favorite vegetable omelet and surprise run-ins with friends. She never turned down the invitation to go out for a chimichanga, or a fish fry and an Old-Fashion. Joyce found peace and joy in nature and loved tending to her flower beds, feeding her birds and playing with her grand-dogs in her yard. She loved taking car rides on red gravel roads in the country to enjoy the scenery of wild flowers and rolling hills. Joyce was thoughtful; she seldom forgot to send cards to loved ones when they needed a pick-me-up or a special occasion that blessed their lives. These treasured cards were usually adorned with her signature smiley faces. In recent years, Grandma Joyce loved to send text messages to her family filled with emojis.

Grandma Joyce cherished every moment spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was known as a baby-whisperer. If there was a baby around, Grandma Joyce was holding it and good luck getting that baby back! She never missed sporting events, concerts, graduations or birthdays, creating lasting memories, and loved staying connected using FaceTime. Instead of framed art work, the walls of her home are adorned with countless pictures of her family. Her grandkids were always greeted by her warm, accepting nature and the unwavering comfort her home always provided them. She was also affectionately known as the dog whisperer-sneaking food to her granddogs under the table, thinking she was being sneaky, delighting in their company just as much as her grandchildren's. A woman of faith, Joyce was a loyal parishioner of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schofield.

Joyce is survived by her loving children Thomas "Chip"Plaza, his wife Gwyn, and their daughter Brianna Tschida (Adam); Jason Plaza and his wife Lori, children Jennifer Willems (Ted), and Christopher Plaza (Maria) and great-grandchildren Zoey, Merritt, Ella, Everett, Griffin, and Kitt; Michael Plaza and his wife Carol, and their children Michael (Erin) and Margaret; Steve Plaza and his children Nicholas (Amanda Hage) and Ryan, their mother Barb Plaza; Patricia "Trish" Kysely and her husband Paul, and their children Emma and Alec. Joyce is also survived by siblings Jan Hanke (deceased, LaVerne Hanke), Denvert Woller (deceased, Patsy Woller), and Margaret (Thomas) Becker; in-laws Phillip Plaza and Ruthie Lietz (deceased Ronald "Ronnie" Lietz), and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband Norman, her parents Leonard and Mildred Woller, in-laws Frank "Bumpa" Plaza (Regina "Nana" Plaza), brothers Kenneth (Elida) Woller, Gordon Woller (survived by Julaine Woller), Eugene Woller (survived by Donna Woller) and sister Beatrice Marquardt (Lyle Marquardt); in-laws Francis Plaza (survived by Candace "Candy" Plaza).

Our family wishes to express sincere appreciation to the wonderful healthcare professionals at Marshfield Medical Center-Weston for their dedication, compassion, and kindness to Joyce throughout her illness.

Funeral Service for Joyce will be held on Friday February 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM at St. Peter Lutheran Church (1351 Grand Ave, Schofield, WI 54476) Pastor Jeff Mahnke will officiate. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the hour of Service at the Church. Committal will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce's memory may be made to The Neighbor's Place (Market).

360 Grand Avenue Suite 200, Wausau, WI 54403

https://neighborsplace-bloom.kindful.com/