Joyce V. Huber

Born May 14, 1938, in Madison, Wisconsin, daughter of Norbert Nicklaus and Marjorie Katherine Verthein, died peacefully on May 10, 2024, at the age of 85 on her farm in Hartland, Wisconsin, with loving family by her side.

Joyce graduated from Edgewood High School in Madison, Wisconsin in 1956 and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Business Education in 1960. While at the University she was an active member of the Delta Gamma sorority. Her future spouse, Jim Huber, was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and in 1958 Joyce was chosen as the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. This honor, of which she was proud, represented the ideals and standards of who Joyce was and how she lived. Following graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Jim Huber, in June 1961. Joyce taught business classes at Monona Grove High School while Jim attended Law School at UW-Madison. Growing up in Madison, Joyce and Jim created lifelong friendships and spent many weekends, for decades to come, attending Badger athletic events and spending time with their Madison friends.

In 1963 Joyce and Jim moved to Frankfurt, Germany with their two young children, Kathy and Michael. Jim served in the army for two years and Joyce took care of the children and taught typing to the GI’s. Upon returning to the states, they settled in the Milwaukee area where Joyce was active in the Junior League and volunteered for years at a school for the deaf and blind. Joyce developed many dear and lifelong friendships during those early days in Milwaukee.

In 1972, Joyce and Jim moved to the family farm in Hartland, WI and for the next 50+ years the farm became a gathering spot for family and friends. Joyce was a gracious hostess and worked tirelessly to throw a good party, creating special memories that span generations. She especially loved hosting extended family for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and friends and family for annual Memorial Day and July 4th picnics on the farm. The summertime picnics brought many of Joyce and Jim’s Milwaukee and Madison friends and their young families to the farm, where kids would line up for the three-legged, wheelbarrow and gunny sack races only to be followed by the much-anticipated piñata and horseback rides, and of course a full picnic spread. In her later years Joyce loved hearing how fun and meaningful those parties were to so many people.

Joyce was a 25-year volunteer for the Milwaukee Polo Club where she was a critical part of its success. She organized much of the behind-the-scenes activity for the Sunday games. Overseeing the concession stand, including the sale of polo club T-shirts and hats were just some of her responsibilities - in addition to cooking for and hosting picnics for the club’s corporate sponsors and their guests. Saturday evenings during polo season, Joyce would often host visiting polo teams at the farm for dinner parties, welcoming all into the Huber family home. For more than 15 years Joyce and Jim hosted young polo players from Argentina and Uruguay for six months of the year as the players pursued professional polo careers. Many became close friends of Joyce and Jim and are still connected to the Huber family today.

In between Joyce kept up some of her other activities. She enjoyed playing tennis, was a long-time member of the Kettle Moraine Garden Club, and a substitute teacher at Arrowhead High School for ten years. On occasion she would even ride a horse on the farm. She also proved to be a proficient salesperson, earning a pink Buick Regal with Mary Kay Cosmetics in the early ‘80’s. She was ahead of the curve in homeopathic wellness, encouraging family and friends about the merits of essential oils, goji juice and herbal supplements.

She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and in recent years she especially enjoyed shopping for them at Costco and through the Vermont Country Store catalog. In fact, she had already purchased the family’s Christmas presents for 2024 and 2025. Another recent highlight was attending her 67th Edgewood High School reunion in Madison, WI last fall.

Joyce was practical, she had a great sense of humor and was quick to laugh. She had little desire for material things and never complained or asked for anything for herself. The last few years Joyce was cared for by a wonderful team of caregivers to whom the family is incredibly grateful. The caregivers brought joy and humor and love to her days and took her on many outings. She was at peace on the farm, often sitting at her kitchen table visiting with family or friends who stopped by, working on a puzzle or a word search, and enjoying the view of her gardens and the many colorful birds outside her window.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Huber. She is survived by her children, Katherine Coakley (Kevin), Michael (Rebecca)Huber, Thomas Huber and Susan Huber, her grandchildren, Carly (Max) Brunclik, Tori (Logan) Rogers, Margaret Coakley, Jack Coakley, Claire Huber, Mara Huber, Tommy Huber, Louisa Huber, Davis Miller, and great grandchildren, Tucker, Tatum, Margot and Crew Brunclik. Joyce is further survived by her siblings, Susan Huber, Norberta Paynter, and John (Jeanne) Verthein, brother-in-law Dan (Pat) Huber, and many nieces, nephews and their spouses who will miss her.

A private burial was held in Clinton, WI. A memorial Mass will be held on Monday, July 8, 2024 at St. Teresa of Calcutta in North Lake, WI, W314 N7462 WI-83 at 11:00 am. There will be a visitation from 10:00 am until the time of Mass. A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held following the Mass. In memory of Joyce please wear something bright, cheery, and casual.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Conference of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, PO Box 68, North Lake, WI 53064-0068 or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America as her late husband, Jim, suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. Or if you prefer, a charity of your choice in Joyce’s name.