Joy Holman

Joy is survived by her nephews, Kurt (Josie) Anderson and Christopher Holman; great nephews and nieces: Jenna Anderson, Ronald (Heather) Anderson, Jared (Amber) Anderson, Kurt Anderson and Amanda Holman; great great nieces and nephews, Eiler, Gavin and Elsie Anderson; stepdaughter, Lori (Mary Engels) Durant and grandson, Daniel Durant; and dear friends Susan Heythaler, Ingrid (Bill) Stafford, Alex (Shari) Jokipii, Eileen Rojas, Kenny Larson, Cindy Reichel, and the Sponberg and Siik families. She was preceded in death by her father, Clifton (Kip) Holman; mother, Betty Holman; sisters, Caroline Anderson and Patty Holman; nephews, Randy (Lois) Anderson and Michael Anderson, and significant other, Donald S. Durant.

Joy was born on September 9, 1940, in Ishpeming, Michigan. She graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1962 with a degree in Education, and later obtained her Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling. She spent nearly four decades of her career in education working as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, middle school principal and high school principal at Fitzgerald Public Schools. When reflecting on her career, Joy said “I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world. I’ve spent 37 years doing something I love!” She stated that some of her best memories include “Having kids come back that are successful, that some people didn’t think would amount to muchÃ-you’ll never know how much it means to a teacher for a student to come back and say, ‘I’m ok, I’m doing well.'”

Joy will be remembered as the world’s greatest teacher, counselor, listener and advice giver. She embodied a spirit of compassion, helping every individual she touched feel like the most special person in the world. Joy stated that her priority was, “Giving kids an ear to listen and a place where they could be where they knew someone cared about them.” Joy loved the theatre and was also an avid sports fan, including football, basketball, baseball and hockey, and was a Spartan devotee. She loved outdoor sports – even during her last summer on the Dead River Basin, she enjoyed afternoon pontoon rides with family and friends, always sporting a glass of wine on ice. Joy loved to boast about her almost 50-year-old pontoon, which was rebuilt twice by her nephew Michael. She was a passionate blueberry picker, always welcoming visitors with a fresh homemade blueberry pie. She loved being at her camp with her family and friends, enjoying the breathtaking views of the Dead River Basin every season of the year.

Joy recently shared, “I hope at the end of my life people will say that I was the kind of person that you are better for having known. I hope that I have done for others what so many others have done for me. Then you can say my life was a success.”

The fact she was named “Joy” was no mistake, as this was what she brought to all of us. Those of us who were lucky enough to know Joy have been changed forever with the positive imprint she has left on our lives and in our hearts. We will carry her memory and her teachings forward, forever united as #TeamJoy!

A celebration of life service will be scheduled during the summer months. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Vista Theatre, 300 Iron St., Negaunee, Michigan, 49866.

Joy’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com