Roderick Joyce

Roderick "Rod" E. Joyce, age 92 of rural Janesville, died on Monday, March 1, 2010 at the Mankato House Health Care Center.    Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 6th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville with Fr. Peter Klein, Celebrant. Interment will be in the St. Ann Cemetery.   Visitation will be held on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home in Janesville, and will continue on Saturday morning for one hour prior to services, at church.   Roderick Eugene was born on November 3, 1917 in Alton Township, Waseca County, Minnesota to Martin and Eleanor (Murphy) Joyce. He attended Dist. #61 country school, and Janesville High School. Rod was united in marriage on November 22, 1938 to Maxine A. Worrell at All Saints Catholic Church in Madison Lake. Rod and Maxine lived most of their married life on their Alton Township farm. In addition to farming, Rod worked as a salesman/bookkeeper at the Janesville Creamery from 1957 to 1967. In 1967 he began a long career with Waseca County, first as Deputy County Recorder, and from 1981 to his retirement in 1994 as County Treasurer.   In addition, Rod volunteered his time on several committees and boards at the county level. Over the years Rod was also very active in Alton Township government, having held various positions and offices. Rod served as Treasurer of School Dist # 61 from 1942 until consolidating with Janesville Schools in 1962. He had served on the Region 9 Board of Directors for 2 years, as well as the Region 9 Agency of Aging Board. In 1988 was elected Director of Waseca County Township Association, and in 1989 was elected Chairman of the Neighborhood Service Center. Rod was the Recording Secretary for the Catholic Order of Foresters-Court St. Ann # 645 for over 30 years, and was a former member of the Knights of Columbus-St. Ann Council #8184. He was a long time member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Janesville.   He is survived by his children Roger (Linda) Joyce of Merrifield, Ron (Betty) Joyce of rural Janesville, Bob (Cindy) Joyce of Janesville, Julie (Joel) Rose of Waseca, Jerry Joyce of Mankato, and Jayne (Darrell) Staley of Alexandria; by his 11 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren; by his sisters-in-law Betty Joyce of Janesville, Bernice (Edwin) Ewert of Janesville and Lola (Harold) Shockey of Roseberg, OR; by nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death by his wife Maxine on 12/24/2001; by his grandson Jeremy Rose; by his parents, and his three brothers Joseph, Sabinus, and Bernard (Carol) Joyce.