Joyce Marie Levonian

Joyce Marie Levonian, age 89, passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Saturday, December 3, 2022. Daughter of the late Robert and Lillian (Nee:Vyvvan) Southwell, she was born in Racine on Thursday, May 25, 1933.

Growing up Joyce enjoyed cheerleading, dance, and spending time with friends. She graduated from Wm Horlick High School, “Class of 1951”. On Saturday, February 7, 1953 at Bethesda Lutheran Church, she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Jack Levonian. Jack and Joyce were blessed with 6 children. Jack passed away on Friday, January 2, 2004. Joyce was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection where she taught Sunday School for over 50 years. She was very involved with her children's activities, supporting them as a Brownie Leader, Cub Scout Leader, soccer mom, dance mom, and gymnastics mom. She enjoyed making costumes for the kids’ dance recitals, sewing, knitting, ceramics and many crafts. Joyce and Jack met as cheerleaders in high school and Joyce spent her life cheering on family and friends with a warm smile, her consistent presence and occasionally a cowbell. She held friendships very dear to her heart and took the time to make sure each of them knew how much she cared. Joyce—also known as Mom, GMA, and GG—made sure every holiday and special occasion was filled with laughter, love, and something fun to do. She loved traveling, card club, bowling, Disney World visits, Vegas trips, cruises with Jack and the travel bugs, Florence Avenue block parties (50 plus years of themed fun) and was instrumental in planning her class of ’51 high school reunions. Throughout all this, she supported Jack’s long hours at R&S Meats, working behind the scenes and helping with the bookkeeping. Despite having asthma, Joyce led a very active life. Later in life, she picked up Jazzercise, bike riding and running, taking first place in her age group in the Lighthouse Run. Joyce/Mom/GMA/GG treasured time spent with family, especially her grandchildren. She played an active role in raising all of them, and loved to attend their sports and school activities. Joyce embodied kindness, and brought love and happiness to countless lives. She will be dearly missed.

Surviving are her 6 children, Jacki Kirt, Jan (Al) Hagopian, Jeri (Greg) Petro, Jeanne (Steve) Levonian-Skaarnes, Joy (Pat) Caine, Jeff (Amy) Levonian; 17 grandchildren, Heidi (Darin) Lyons, Natalie (Skie) Gehrig, Ari (Rosie) Hagopian, Mara (Grant) Bijold, and Nico (Blandine) Hagopian, Stephen (Dana Smith) Petro, David (Perla Jimenez) Petro, Rachel (Morten Seirup) Petro, and Becca (Greg Pietila) Petro, Stephanie Skaarnes, Cori (Brian) White, and Erik Skaarnes, Brian (Elise) Caine, Kasey (Tyler Cutsforth) Caine, and Brett (Karli Kohls) Caine, Josephine and Jovanni Levonian; 13 great grandchildren, Caden and Cooper Lyons, Brooklyn Gehrig, Ani Hagopian, Evie and Micah Bijold, Anaya Hagopian, Winona and Theodore Smith Petro, Sebastian and Santiago Petro, Charlotte Skaarnes-Pissanello, Sonny White; nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by son-in-law John Kirt, sister and brother-in-law Judy and Richard Eichhorn, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lou and James Nield, in-laws Julia and John Levonian.

Funeral services will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio Street, Sunday, December 11, 2022, 2:00 pm with Reverend Kelly Nieman Anderson and Der Hayr Yeprem Kelegian officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church on Sunday 12:30 pm until time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection or the Horlick High School Levonian Field have been suggested. Joyce loved to wear cheerful colors; to help us celebrate her light we encourage all to wear something bright on Sunday. In honor of Joyce we encourage you to do something special with those you love.