Joyce (Glimpse) Madden

1935 - 2025

Joyce Lynn (Glimpse) Madden, age 89, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and compassionate, dedicated career school nurse for 30 years, died peacefully, surrounded by family on October 13, 2025.

She was born in Wichita, Kansas, on November 11, 1935 (Armistice Day, later Veteran's Day) to Lula Elizabeth Helbert Smith and Charles Milton Smith. Though an only child, she grew up living with not only her parents, but also with or near extended family that included her beloved grandmother, Cora, an aunt and four uncles, some of whom, close to her age were more like older siblings. Later close to special cousins who were also like siblings, Joyce deeply loved and treasured her extended family.

Joyce became friends with Jack L. Glimpse at Hamilton Middle School (their parents had been friends since their births and had socialized together). Jack sat behind Joyce in class, plucking the angora hair from her sweater and blowing it over her shoulder to win her attention. They attended a tea dance together at the Shirkmere Hotel for which Jack practiced dancing with his mother for hours in preparation. Joyce and Jack were in and out of each other's social circles but stayed connected. On the bus one day while they were both attending East High School, Jack was enthralled to hear the details of Joyce's recent cooking contest win and marvel at her prize - a late-model GE aqua-green electric hand mixer (which Joyce used for years until it finally gave out).

Joyce, as well as Jack, graduated from Wichita East High School in 1953. Joyce had not planned to attend college, but a dear friend, Marilyn McConnell, persuaded her it was possible to work and afford to attend college and said, "Just come with me!" And Joyce did. She worked hard to pay her way, studied hard, and enjoyed membership in Gamma Phi Beta.

At a New Year's Eve party in 1954, old friends from East High got together and Joyce and Jack reconnected. A kiss welcoming the new year set a courtship in motion and the two married in the Chapel of Wichita First United Methodist Church on April 24, 1955.

Joyce and Jack spent time in New Jersey and Grovetown, Georgia, after Jack was drafted into the army but returned to Wichita to be close to family after Jack's service was complete. They shared 45 wonderful years together and raised two children: Jeff Glimpse, born 1958 and now of North Newton, KS, and Jennifer Glimpse Saltzman, born 1964 and now of Los Angeles, CA.

While raising a family, Joyce returned to Wichita State University and completed coursework to earn her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Upon graduation in 1973, she began her career as a school nurse in The Wichita Public Schools. While working full-time, Joyce continued her education at the graduate level, earning her masters in Educational Psychology in 1979. Even then, she didn't end her education. Among the first school nurses in the Wichita Public Schools appointed to a leadership position as a Quadrant Leader and serving in that capacity for much of her career, Joyce earned an additional 40 graduate hours in School Law and School Administration. She was a compassionate school nurse and a committed advocate for the children she served. She was a skilled medical professional but always, too, a refuge - a trusted adult and empathic listener who children felt safe with and could go to for support.

Joyce served as president of the Kansas School Nurse Organization (KSNO) in 1987-89, earning three awards for service and contributions to School Nursing in Kansas and nationally with The National Association of School Nurses (NASN). She was recognized as School Nurse of the Year in 1992. She co-authored protocols for neurodevelopment of children for Wichita Public Schools and other protocols relating to the nursing care of handicapped children for NASN. She wrote a grant proposal for a Wichita respite services program for families of handicapped children and received funding in 1990.

She was always civically and culturally engaged in the Wichita community and a committed volunteer, dedicating her time and energy to such organizations as Each One, Teach One, through which she taught literacy skills to adults and English to newcomers to the United States, Wichita First United Methodist Church (focusing especially on children's education), various women's political action groups, Project Beauty, Wichita Symphony Women's Association (now Wichita Symphony Ambassadors), Music Theatre Wichita Guild, and Meals-On-Wheels.

She was a bold, highly skilled and accomplished cook and a consummate hostess. Cooking was her art and she was exceptional at it. She set an elegant table and she relished creating memorable meals, celebrations and rituals, making so many otherwise ordinary days, extraordinary for both family and friends. She never let an occasion just slip by. There was always a holiday or celebration to look forward to and plan for. She also religiously wrote timely, detailed thank you notes, letting the people in her life know how much she'd cherished and valued the things they'd done and the times they'd shared together. Finally, she loved to dance and was both fun and graceful on the dance floor.

She was a loving grandmother and never missed being present for a birthday - even when that birthday was half a continent away! She taught her grandchildren her cooking artistry, each of them eager to learn and taking away special memories and different pieces of her recipe legacy - her cheesecake, her pie dough, her roulade, her raised cinnamon roles, her sausage and mushroom Thanksgiving stuffing, her French crepes, among many other favorite dishes.

Joyce experienced devastating loss when Jack died (age 65) from the complications of metastatic colon cancer in October of 2000.

A few years later, Joyce met Norval Madden and they shared late-life love and companionship. They married August 6, 2005. Joyce was proud and delighted that they married with all of their combined children and grandchildren present and participating in the ceremony. Through their blended families, they forged new customs and traditions and enjoyed more than 16 years of marriage together.

Joyce is survived by two children, Jeff Glimpse (Jan) of North Newton, KS, and Jennifer Glimpse Saltzman (Michael) of Los Angeles, CA; step-sons Michael Madden of Wichita, and Tom Madden of Lincoln Park, MI; step-daughter Angela (Jack) of Granbury, TX; grandson Erik (May) of Pflugerville, TX; granddaughter Elizabeth (Kail) of Pasadena, CA; granddaughter Samantha of Somerville, MA; granddaughter Sarah of New York, NY; and four step-grandchildren.

Joyce was preceded in death by her first love and husband of 45 years, Jack Glimpse, her late-life love and husband, Norval Madden, and by her granddaughter Mary Swanson Glimpse.

Memorial service Saturday, December 13, Wichita First United Methodist Church.

330 North Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202.

Reflections and refreshments in the Parlor 10-11 a.m.

Service in the Chapel 11 a.m.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Wichita Symphony:

–– You can mail a check made out to "Wichita Symphony" with "Joyce Glimpse Madden Memorial" in the memo line. The mailing address is:

Wichita Symphony Orchestra.

225 W Douglas Ave, Ste 207.

Wichita, KS 67202.

–– Alternatively, you can donate via card at https://wichitasymphony.org/support-us/donate.

–– Wichita Symphony staff is also available to help donors make their gifts. Donors are welcome to email symphony@wso.org. You may also call the box office line at 316.267.7658 (please leave a voicemail if the line is busy or if it's after-hours).