Joyce M. Abas

Age 90 of South St. Paul
Passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 1, 2024. Preceded in death by husband, Edward; grandson, Colin Rahn & baby Rebeck. Survived by daughters, Ann (Kevin) Rahn, Lisa (Kristofer) Rebeck & Amy (Steven) Solberg; grandsons, Dylan & Cameron Rahn; granddaughter, Iris Solberg; special friend, Al Willenbring; & other family and friends.
Joyce Marie Elmquist was born on March 20,1934. She was the second daughter born to Arthur and Agnes Elmquist. The first daughter was her best friend/sister Joan. She grew up in Minneapolis near Lake Nokomis and went to Roosevelt High School where she skipped a grade and was a graduate of the 1950-1951 class. She attended River Falls for a year and then went to the University of Minnesota graduating with a degree in Education. During this time she had various jobs. One at the Nile theater and the other at Gray's Drug in Dinkytown. She was also a member of Kappa Kappa Lambda.
After graduation she set off to California and then to Michigan to teach elementary school. Eventually she came back to Minnesota and started a teaching job in South St Paul where she met a coworker named Mrs. Dolan who set her up on a blind date with Edward Abas. She ended up marrying the handsome suitor in September 27, 1958. They had 3 girls Ann, Lisa and Amy.
Joyce was an excellent seamstress. She sewed a lot of her children's clothing and patched up things that others thought were unrepairable. She made school dance clothes out of bed sheets and made all of her granddaughter, Iris's Halloween costumes. She was a regular at her two grandson's, Dylan and Cameron, sporting events.
She had a huge imagination and was very creative. Taking usual things and making them her own creation was part of who she was. Birthday parties included pin the bow on the girl instead of pin the tail on the donkey. In her later years, she invited anyone she knew to come over for "Art Night" which included either drawing or painting.
Joyce was an avid reader and a member of many book clubs. She played a mean game of cards and enjoyed meeting with other card players at the Senior Centers near her home and playing with family and friends. She loved jigsaw puzzles which she passed on to her kids.
Cooking was not her forte but she tried her best to have a meal on the table every night but was highly afraid of it not being cooked enough which resulted in a lot of dried meat and overcooked vegetables. No spice either because she was Scandinavian. She made muffins in the oven when it was 90+ degrees out when she first got married. It didn't go over so well with Ed.
Most of all, she loved her family and friends and will be missed greatly by them all.
Memorial Service 12 pm Monday, August 12th, at Augustana Lutheran Church, 1400 S. Robert St., West St. Paul. Visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Private interment Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred to The Special Olympics.