James Joyce

James Warren Joyce was born to Bernice Marie Nelson and Warren Archie Joyce Feb. 21, 1936, at New Underwood, S.D. When he was 5 years old, they moved to Wall, S.D., where he attended grades 1-12. It was there that he met the love of his life, LeIla LaVonne Poste,  while in the 10th grade. 

As a young man, he worked at the Wall Drug Store as the mechanical cowboy orchestra operator. He also worked for the West River Electric Association as a lineman. After high school, he attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, S.D. and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. As a result of his ROTC training in college, he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. 

Jim and LeIla were united in marriage June 15, 1958, in Wall and moved to Jackson, Mich., where he was employed as an engineer for Commonwealth Associates. He then entered the Army and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, for three years. The family moved to Hutchinson, Minn., in 1963 where Jim took a job with 3M as a quality engineer. In 1967 the family moved to New Jersey with 3M, only to move back to Hutchinson in 1973 with 3M, eventually becoming plant manager. In 1982 the family moved to Woodbury, Minn., where Jim became manufacturing director with 3M and retired in this position in 1995 after 33 years with the company. Jim and LeIla retired to their dream log home in Custer, S.D. He enjoyed living in the Black Hills until June 2018 when they moved to Plymouth, Minn., to be closer to their children. 

Jim had an incredible curiosity that enabled him to problem-solve and create ideas to make life easier. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed playing and watching football, baseball, track and basketball. He loved cars, square dancing, music, RVing to Arizona and traveling to Mexico and beyond. He never missed his kids’ school events and was a loving, generous and devoted husband and father. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren. 

Jim died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, at the Birches of Trillium Woods Senior Living Center in Plymouth.  He was 83.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernice and Warren Joyce.  

Survivors include his wife, LeIla “Lee”; children, Jeff (Lori) Joyce, Dave (Kathy) Joyce and Diane (Dan) Amundson; grandchildren, Tyler, Andy, Carina and Emma Joyce, Lisa Mackey and Jenna Amundson; and sister, Barbara Giese and family.   

Memorials are preferred to the American Lung Association. Funeral services were Sept. 18 at the United Methodist Church in Wall with Pastor Russell Masartis officiating.

Interment with military honors was at the Wall cemetery.