Joyce Strosahl – musician, benefactor, business-owner, and patron of the arts – died peacefully on Friday, February 17, after a two-year pitched battle with pancreatic cancer.
Joyce's generosity came from direct experience with want. Born in Appalachian Kentucky to a school-teacher father and a musical mother, Joyce learned the lessons of community from one that had to share to survive. As a child during the Depression years, tom-boy Joyce and her sister, Claire, still spent wonderful hours with pollywogs, ferns and exotic birds in the hollows. She and Claire both demonstrated musical talent early, and remained life-long friends, each giving birth to four sons and often traveling together as adults.
It wasn't an easy road, but Joyce eventually received her Masters of Music degree at Illinois Wesleyan College. While in Chicago, she met Margot Strosahl and became intrigued by Margot's larger-than-life brother who had gone to Alaska to make his fortune. She and John conducted a long-distance romance, marrying in 1944. The unlikely pairing of John and Joyce was a source of humor throughout their lives: Joyce, a diminutive musician from the south, and John, a strapping Iowa farm boy turned Alaskan Mountain Man.
The couple finally settled in the Yakima Valley, where they grew United Builders of Washington. Joyce became involved in the local music scene, both as a music teacher and as a performer in the then-fledgling Yakima Symphony. She played with YSO for several decades with maestro Brooke Creswell. Joyce was a supporter of The Wilson School of Music, and was disappointed when that visionary endeavor eventually failed -- yet her dream did not. With two of her sons, Joyce established The Seasons Performance Hall in 2005.
Joyce and John thrived on adventurous world travel. Joyce became a discriminating art collector. She spoke her mind, even when unfashionable, and was an early supporter of Women's Rights. Eventually she served as president of the Yakima Chapter of the League of Women Voters. She loved birding, gardening, hiking, reading, and mushrooming.
Recently, with the loss of her husband and her youngest son, and the affect of the current depression on the housing industry, Joyce had reason to be discouraged. As many times before, Joyce's courage, determination, and commitment kept her – and often her family -- going. Joyce, we will always love and admire you.
Joyce was predeceased by husband, John, and son, Mark. She is survived by sons Steve and his wife, Geanette, Pat and his wife, Judy, Kirk and his wife, Patti Robinson, daughter-in-law, Lori, daughter Coe'e, grandchildren, Regan, Frances, Joanna, Alexandria, Jack, Angelina, Eleanor, Logan, Janava, plus five great-grand children.
Our family would like to extend a special thanks to her caring medical team, and to her long-time caregiver extraordinaire, Tambatha Wilks.
Joyce's generosity came from direct experience with want. Born in Appalachian Kentucky to a school-teacher father and a musical mother, Joyce learned the lessons of community from one that had to share to survive. As a child during the Depression years, tom-boy Joyce and her sister, Claire, still spent wonderful hours with pollywogs, ferns and exotic birds in the hollows. She and Claire both demonstrated musical talent early, and remained life-long friends, each giving birth to four sons and often traveling together as adults.
It wasn't an easy road, but Joyce eventually received her Masters of Music degree at Illinois Wesleyan College. While in Chicago, she met Margot Strosahl and became intrigued by Margot's larger-than-life brother who had gone to Alaska to make his fortune. She and John conducted a long-distance romance, marrying in 1944. The unlikely pairing of John and Joyce was a source of humor throughout their lives: Joyce, a diminutive musician from the south, and John, a strapping Iowa farm boy turned Alaskan Mountain Man.
The couple finally settled in the Yakima Valley, where they grew United Builders of Washington. Joyce became involved in the local music scene, both as a music teacher and as a performer in the then-fledgling Yakima Symphony. She played with YSO for several decades with maestro Brooke Creswell. Joyce was a supporter of The Wilson School of Music, and was disappointed when that visionary endeavor eventually failed -- yet her dream did not. With two of her sons, Joyce established The Seasons Performance Hall in 2005.
Joyce and John thrived on adventurous world travel. Joyce became a discriminating art collector. She spoke her mind, even when unfashionable, and was an early supporter of Women's Rights. Eventually she served as president of the Yakima Chapter of the League of Women Voters. She loved birding, gardening, hiking, reading, and mushrooming.
Recently, with the loss of her husband and her youngest son, and the affect of the current depression on the housing industry, Joyce had reason to be discouraged. As many times before, Joyce's courage, determination, and commitment kept her – and often her family -- going. Joyce, we will always love and admire you.
Joyce was predeceased by husband, John, and son, Mark. She is survived by sons Steve and his wife, Geanette, Pat and his wife, Judy, Kirk and his wife, Patti Robinson, daughter-in-law, Lori, daughter Coe'e, grandchildren, Regan, Frances, Joanna, Alexandria, Jack, Angelina, Eleanor, Logan, Janava, plus five great-grand children.
Our family would like to extend a special thanks to her caring medical team, and to her long-time caregiver extraordinaire, Tambatha Wilks.
Joyce Strosahl – musician, benefactor, business-owner, and patron of the arts – died peacefully on Friday, February 17, after a two-year pitched battle with pancreatic cancer.
Joyce's generosity came from direct experience with want. Born in Appalachian Kentucky to a school-teacher father and a musical mother, Joyce learned the lessons of community from one that had to share to survive. As a child during the Depression years, tom-boy Joyce and her sister, Claire, still spent wonderful hours with pollywogs, ferns and exotic birds in the hollows. She and Claire both demonstrated musical talent early, and remained life-long friends, each giving birth to four sons and often traveling together as adults.
It wasn't an easy road, but Joyce eventually received her Masters of Music degree at Illinois Wesleyan College. While in Chicago, she met Margot Strosahl and became intrigued by Margot's larger-than-life brother who had gone to Alaska to make his fortune. She and John conducted a long-distance romance, marrying in 1944. The unlikely pairing of John and Joyce was a source of humor throughout their lives: Joyce, a diminutive musician from the south, and John, a strapping Iowa farm boy turned Alaskan Mountain Man.
The couple finally settled in the Yakima Valley, where they grew United Builders of Washington. Joyce became involved in the local music scene, both as a music teacher and as a performer in the then-fledgling Yakima Symphony. She played with YSO for several decades with maestro Brooke Creswell. Joyce was a supporter of The Wilson School of Music, and was disappointed when that visionary endeavor eventually failed -- yet her dream did not. With two of her sons, Joyce established The Seasons Performance Hall in 2005.
Joyce and John thrived on adventurous world travel. Joyce became a discriminating art collector. She spoke her mind, even when unfashionable, and was an early supporter of Women's Rights. Eventually she served as president of the Yakima Chapter of the League of Women Voters. She loved birding, gardening, hiking, reading, and mushrooming.
Recently, with the loss of her husband and her youngest son, and the affect of the current depression on the housing industry, Joyce had reason to be discouraged. As many times before, Joyce's courage, determination, and commitment kept her – and often her family -- going. Joyce, we will always love and admire you.
Joyce was predeceased by husband, John, and son, Mark. She is survived by sons Steve and his wife, Geanette, Pat and his wife, Judy, Kirk and his wife, Patti Robinson, daughter-in-law, Lori, daughter Coe'e, grandchildren, Regan, Frances, Joanna, Alexandria, Jack, Angelina, Eleanor, Logan, Janava, plus five great-grand children.
Our family would like to extend a special thanks to her caring medical team, and to her long-time caregiver extraordinaire, Tambatha Wilks.
Joyce's generosity came from direct experience with want. Born in Appalachian Kentucky to a school-teacher father and a musical mother, Joyce learned the lessons of community from one that had to share to survive. As a child during the Depression years, tom-boy Joyce and her sister, Claire, still spent wonderful hours with pollywogs, ferns and exotic birds in the hollows. She and Claire both demonstrated musical talent early, and remained life-long friends, each giving birth to four sons and often traveling together as adults.
It wasn't an easy road, but Joyce eventually received her Masters of Music degree at Illinois Wesleyan College. While in Chicago, she met Margot Strosahl and became intrigued by Margot's larger-than-life brother who had gone to Alaska to make his fortune. She and John conducted a long-distance romance, marrying in 1944. The unlikely pairing of John and Joyce was a source of humor throughout their lives: Joyce, a diminutive musician from the south, and John, a strapping Iowa farm boy turned Alaskan Mountain Man.
The couple finally settled in the Yakima Valley, where they grew United Builders of Washington. Joyce became involved in the local music scene, both as a music teacher and as a performer in the then-fledgling Yakima Symphony. She played with YSO for several decades with maestro Brooke Creswell. Joyce was a supporter of The Wilson School of Music, and was disappointed when that visionary endeavor eventually failed -- yet her dream did not. With two of her sons, Joyce established The Seasons Performance Hall in 2005.
Joyce and John thrived on adventurous world travel. Joyce became a discriminating art collector. She spoke her mind, even when unfashionable, and was an early supporter of Women's Rights. Eventually she served as president of the Yakima Chapter of the League of Women Voters. She loved birding, gardening, hiking, reading, and mushrooming.
Recently, with the loss of her husband and her youngest son, and the affect of the current depression on the housing industry, Joyce had reason to be discouraged. As many times before, Joyce's courage, determination, and commitment kept her – and often her family -- going. Joyce, we will always love and admire you.
Joyce was predeceased by husband, John, and son, Mark. She is survived by sons Steve and his wife, Geanette, Pat and his wife, Judy, Kirk and his wife, Patti Robinson, daughter-in-law, Lori, daughter Coe'e, grandchildren, Regan, Frances, Joanna, Alexandria, Jack, Angelina, Eleanor, Logan, Janava, plus five great-grand children.
Our family would like to extend a special thanks to her caring medical team, and to her long-time caregiver extraordinaire, Tambatha Wilks.
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