Joyce Potter Paskvan
Sep 10, 1925 -
Oct 12, 2020
On Sept. 10, 1925, in Stephenson, Mich., Elmer and Matilda Potter welcomed their sixth child, Joyce Vivian Potter, to the world. Joyce's mother taught high school English and literature. Her architect father built homes and owned and operated the EF Potter Lumber Company: "We sell everything you need to build and maintain a home." Joyce's five siblings were: Catherine (1915), Ruth (1917), Celia (1919), Elmer "Bud" (1921) and Rose (1923).
Joyce enjoyed ice skating, bicycle riding and 4H Camps. At Stephenson High School, Joyce played violin, cornet and was leading lady in the senior class play. She sang in the school chorus and the Precious Blood Catholic Church choir. She enjoyed fencing and horseback riding and, never neglecting her studies, earned class valedictorian in 1943.
Joyce received her Bachelor of Science at Michigan State University and master's as a Registered Dietitian in September 1948 from the University of Michigan. Joyce served as Head Dietician at the American Legion Hospital in Battle Creek, Mich.
In July 1950, Joyce took a vacation to Fairbanks, Alaska, to visit sisters Rose and Catherine, married to brothers Mark and Ken Ringstad. She took a train to Seattle, ship to Alaska, and train to Fairbanks. Mark introduced Joyce to his friend, Tommy Paskvan, and they dated every day until she flew to Michigan in September.
Before her return to Michigan, in her sister Catherine's kitchen, Tommy took out a jade and gold ring and asked Joyce to marry. They wed on Jan. 27, 1951, in Michigan. On their honeymoon, they drove through Michigan, Texas, California, Oregon, and Washington, the Alaska Highway through Canada, arriving in Fairbanks in March.
Life with Tommy was wonderful. Years 1951 to 1966 were busy with pregnancies, babies and children. When expecting their ninth child, during a particularly cold winter, Joyce suggested a move to Seattle. They found a beautiful brick home on Haller Lake in North Seattle, walking distance to grade school, junior high and high schools. Five days after Ted's birth and baptism in August 1966, the family moved to Seattle. The children enjoyed the schools, new friends, the city and life on the lake. Still running Tommy's Elbow Room, Tommy flew back and forth to spend a month in each city. In 1967, they bought a Dodge Motorhome in which they made many family trips over the years across the United States, visiting relatives, National Parks, museums, car factories and hydroelectric dams.
The family moved back to Fairbanks 2 years later during talk of oil discoveries and the soon-to-be-booming economy. Next to Tommy's Elbow Room, The Cabaret and upstairs office space were built. These businesses provided a good living and opportunities for the family to learn business skills. Tommy enjoyed working with clients who included many of Fairbanks' leading citizens, Alaska Native organizer Howard Rock, and Tommy's sponsored many sports teams. In 1993, Tommy's Elbow Room and The Cabaret were sold.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy; her parents; siblings; and grandson, Michael. Joyce is survived by their children, Joseph (Barb), Stephen (Susan), Margie Workman, George (Cynthia), Charles, Gloria (Mike) Stratton, Bonnie (Ron), Frank (Anca) and Ted (Katie); grandchildren, Nicole (Perry), Chelsea (Brandon), Tom (Meg), Ryan; Jason, Adam; David (Jona), Laura; Tammy (Grant), Pamela, Gina (Seth); Michelle, Mark; William, Savannah; Danika, Kendra, Samantha; and Thomas and Tristan; and great-grandchildren, Ryan; Audrey Joyce, Gracie; Bryn, Claire; Kalynn, Addison; Maliea, Lavan; Isabella, Haakon; Livia, Skyler, Brooklyn; and Adalyn and Owen.
Words cannot capture how intensely proud we are of Joyce's accomplishments, and how wonderful Joyce always was as mother of nine, grandmother and great-grandmother! We will always be awed by her strength, resilience, beauty, generosity, intellect and kindness.
For more on her life, see http://Joyce.Paskvan.Net.
