Joyce Marcella Dube

Joyce Marcella Dube, age 86, passed away June 8, 2024 at Life Care Center in Puyallup, Washington. Joyce was born on April 2, 1938 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the small town of Chatham. She was the youngest of eight children, born to Peter and Ellen (Koski) Johnson. The family lived on a dairy farm in Chatham, where the children all pitched in to help with the farm chores. Joyce had many happy memories of her childhood growing up with her siblings on a farm in the country and attending school in a small schoolhouse, where she made many close friends, with whom she kept in close contact through the years.
While attending high school, Joyce participated in track, softball and cheerleading. She graduated from Eben High School in 1956. She and her close friend, Ruthie decided they would take commercial classes and move to Detroit to get office jobs, as they both had many relatives there. Both of their sisters and another close friend joined them, and they rented a home together, sharing expenses. Joyce had many fond memories and stories to tell of her younger years in the big city. She worked in Detroit for many years as an executive secretary for the CEO of a multi-international auto tool maker.
On July 7, 1962 Joyce married Manfred (Fred) Dube. Joyce and Fred lived in the Detroit area, and eventually moved to Troy, Michigan, where their son, Christian, was born on May 16, 1970. In 1974 they moved to Tucson, Arizona, where Joyce worked in the office of a local cemetery. They moved to Kent, Washington in 1976, where she worked for EFCO Forms, a forming and shoring company in Kent, and then she worked for Starro Enterprises, a granite company. Joyce and Fred remained in Kent where they made their permanent home, raised their son, and then years later retired. Joyce's husband, Fred passed away on December 15, 1999.
Joyce found joy in flowers and gardening and enjoyed cultivating beauty around her home. Wherever she lived, she loved to create a beautiful and welcome space. Joyce especially loved God and her family. She enjoyed outings with friends and family, supporting her son, Christian with his academic and sporting endeavors. She was closest to her sister, Gerda, and they had many fun adventures together while living in Troy and Clawson, Michigan. Joyce and Fred, along with their son, made numerous trips overseas through the years to visit Fred's family in Germany.
Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Ellen Johnson; her husband, Fred; brothers, Harold, Alden, Robert, Howard, William and Kenneth Johnson; sisters, Charlotte Contois, Gerda Sweitzer, Eleanor Maki, and Alida Jean Coble.
Joyce is survived by her son, Christian Dube; and numerous nieces and nephews, including her three nephews in Germany.
Her Memorial Service will be held on June 22nd at 2:00 pm at Edline-Yahn and Covington Funeral Chapel. Family and friends are welcome to attend. The service will also be available to watch via livestream.
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