Joyce Shirley Knigge

Joyce Knigge, 72, of Mesa, AZ passed away October 15, 2018. She was born December 13, 1945, in Chicago, IL to Wallace and Helen [Buszta] Graczyk. Joyce grew up in Antioch, IL with two sisters on the Chain O'Lakes where she spent time water skiing, fishing, and boating. She earned her degree in nursing from the College of Lake County and after graduation she went on to work for St Therese Medical Center in Waukegan, IL while raising her two daughters. Joyce later moved to New Mexico and then on to Arizona to be closer to her daughters and went to work for Hospice of the Valley and Home Instead, until her retirement.
She was a very adventurous woman and loved hiking with her daughters, traveling, hot air balloons, golfing, bingo, and playing the slots. She also enjoyed clothing and fashion, reading, knitting, and sewing and had made several Halloween costumes, prom dress and even clothing for her daughters' Cabbage Patch dolls. She was a terrific cook, loved to entertain and had many holidays at her home with the family.
Joyce had a love of all animals, especially her "grand fur babies" and was very fascinated by the grey wolf. She is survived by her daughters, Laura (Vicente) Alonso-Paez and Kimberly (Brian) Noakes, her sister, Jan Edwards, and her "grand fur babies, Coco, Lou, Murphy, Boomer, and Sadie. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wally and Helen and her sister, Diane Kuhnwald.
Joyce will be dearly missed. A celebration of her life will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, November 3, 2018, at Mariposa Gardens Cemetery Chapel, 6747 E. Broadway Rd in Mesa. Arrangements entrusted to Mariposa Gardens (480) 830-4422