Joyce M. Gilligan

1935 - 2026

Joyce M. Gilligan, age 90, passed away on January 8, 2026 at Aurora Medical Center, in Oshkosh.
Joyce was born to Edmund and Violet (Koutsky) Alsteen in the farm house of her grandparents; Phillip and Anna (VanEss) Alsteen on the Belgian Road in Lena, WI on June 9, 1935.

After spending some time in Gary Indiana, Buffalo, NY and Cicero IL, the family had the opportunity to return to Lena to manage the Ernest Frye farm (currently the Peterson's farm), while he served the country during WWII. It was at this time Joyce started her education at Birch Grove School, a one-room country school down the road. The family then moved to their farm and she finished her education in the Lena school system, graduating high school with the class of 1953. She attended and graduated Marinette County Teacher's Normal School in 1955 and was hired to teach upper elementary students at Sobieski State Graded School until she married Roger (Bud) Gilligan in St. Charles Catholic Church in Lena WI. on June 1, 1957 and moved to Oshkosh. When no teaching positions were available, she applied at Miles Kimball Company for seasonal employment and retired forty three years later as a buyers assistant.

After learning the basics of sewing from her mother at an early age, she continued to enjoy the craft throughout her life, as a member of the Lena 4-H Club, Home Economics class in high school and in later years at the Fox Valley Technical College, where she learned quilting and computerized machine embroidering. For five generations, she enjoyed creating and altering items of apparel and home decor for family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.

She is survived by a sister; Lenora Magee of Lena, two aunts; Caroline and Dorothy, two sisters-in-law; Lee Alsteen and Barb Alsteen. She was a loving 'Auntie" to many nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. Joyce is also survived by many cousins, longtime friends and helpful neighbors.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers; Earl and his twin brother Edmund Jr. (infant), Tom and Rick Alsteen, brother-in-law; Leonard Magee, nephews Leonard Magee Jr., Timothy Magee (infant), Lee Fredrickson, Mark Pfeiffer, John McArdle, two nieces; Elizabeth Berry and Barbara Gilligan.

Also preceding her, were her mother and father-in-law Esther and Lyle Gilligan and all of her husband's Siblings and their spouses.
A special Thank You is extended to the staff at Aurora Hospital, Park View Health Center and Aurora Hospice, who cared for Joyce in her final days.

Funeral Services were held on Tuesday January 13, 2026 at Fiss & Bills- Poklasny Funeral Home in Oshkosh.


Fiss and Bills-Poklasny Funeral Home
865 S. Westhaven Drive
Oshkosh WI 54904
(920) 235-1170