Joyce Sannwald

1936 - 2026

Joyce Sannwald

November 28, 1936 - February 5, 2026

Joyce Annette Sannwald, age 89, a resident of Minong, died on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in Duluth, MN. Joyce was born on November 28, 1936, at home in Trego, Wisconsin, to parents George and Rubie (Pierce) Hanacek.

She attended and graduated from Spooner High School. After High School, Joyce worked at the dime store in Spooner where she met a young man who worked with and had just purchased a milk truck from her brother Gerald. The joke was that she came with the truck! She said no, but history shows she did say yes eventually. They married July 28,1956 in Trego; bought the farm she presently lives on and milked cows where they welcomed their first daughter Terri. They purchased a pulp business from Leon Schroyer that became Sannwald Forest Products.

Joyce became a stay-at-home Mom and bookkeeper. That is when they welcomed their 2nd daughter, Mary. Having sold the milk cows, they then purchased Hereford heifers from Mr. Fetting from Cushing, WI and started a beef herd. Now she is a beef rancher too. It was common to see her feeding cows with the Allis Chalmers tractor with two girls tossing bales to the cows or stacking bales in the hay mow with father-in-law Adolph with mother-in-law Maisie and the girls at the elevator.

In her life, Joyce enjoyed her horses and cows, her Sno-Jet snowmobile, two different red cars, and a collection of frogs and teddy bears. A Fairlane GTO and her red Mustang II came off the showroom floor just for her! She wasn't last racing on her Sno-Jet, earning her nickname "Murder Mitts", per mechanic Karl! A friendly collection of various frogs and Teddy Bears were hard to miss lined up faithfully in her house given to her by family and friends.

Joyce lived a full life, not afraid of a challenge to try and do different things. If she needed a dress, she would make one. The family would ice fish, horseback riding, snowmobile, garden and put up firewood together most weekends.

Joyce is survived by her daughters Terri (Kevin) Johnson, Mary (Dan) Elliott, grandchildren Brad (Lindsay) Johnson, Beth (Chris) Rank, great grandchildren Isaac and Charlotte Johnson, Emma and Owen Rank, sister-in-law Joan Hanacek, and many nieces and nephews.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband Karl of nearly 68 years, parents George and Rubie Hanacek, brothers George and Gerald Hanacek, sister Geraldine Rubie Hanacek, father and mother in law Adolph and Maise Sannwald, brothers and sisters in law: Helen (Nathan) Beaman, Naomi (Ray) Kirk, Ted (Doris) Sannwald, Virginia (Richard) Hitzemann, and several nieces and nephews.

A gathering of friends and family will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2026, from noon- 3pm, at the Minong Town Hall, W7095 Nancy Lake Road, Minong, WI 54859. A private interment will be held at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery. Online memories and/or condolences may be left at www.bratley-nelsonchapels.com