Obituary
Obituary of Joyce U. Dreyfus
Joyce U. Dreyfus (nee Unke)
Joyce U. Dreyfus, the former First Lady of Wisconsin, passed away peacefully
while surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at the age of
84 years. Joyce was married for 60 years to the former Governor of Wisconsin
(1979-1983), Lee Sherman Dreyfus. She was born on May 28, 1927, the
daughter of Harry A. and Ethel M. (nee Mitchell) Unke. Joyce graduated from
Washington High School in 1945 and later attended the University of Wisconsin -
Stevens Point and obtained her BA in Education. Joyce became a teacher within
the Stevens Point School System. She was active in numerous volunteer and
civic organizations. Joyce was a dedicated member of P.E.O. and a member of
St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Waukesha. She had a passion for the arts, and
during her time as the First Lady, she helped establish the first Governor's Award
for the Arts in 1981. During that time, Joyce also oversaw and led the
fundraising and renovation campaign for the Governor's Executive Residence.
She had a love for reading, poetry, and the arts. More than anything, Joyce
loved spending time with her family, and she was a devoted wife, mother,
grandmother and great-grandmother.
Joyce will be lovingly remembered by her son, The Honorable Waukesha County
Circuit Court Judge Lee S. (Susan) Dreyfus, Jr. of Waukesha; her daughter,
Susan (The Reverend James S.) Dreyfus Fosdick of Eagle River; her
grandchildren, James Fosdick, Jr., Christopher Lee Fosdick, Jennifer Susan
Fosdick, Kathleen Dreyfus Bardunias, Lee Sherman Dreyfus III and Clare Bluett
Dreyfus; her seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and other
family and friends. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Ethel;
and her loving and devoted husband of 60 years, Lee Sherman.
A visitation for Joyce will be from 4:00 until 6:00 PM on Sunday, March 18, 2012
at the Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd.,
Waukesha, WI 53188. A second visitation will be from 9:30 AM until the 10:30
AM Funeral Mass on Monday, March 19, 2012, at St. Matthias Episcopal Church,
111 E. Main Street, Waukesha, WI 53187. The Reverend David Simmons will
officiate the service. A private family interment will be held at Prairie Home
Cemetery in Waukesha, immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated by the family to St. Matthias
Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, 111 E. Main Street, Waukesha, WI 53187.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joyce Dreyfus, please visit Tribute Store
A Memorial Tree was planted for Joyce
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Cesarz Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, Cremation & Pre-Planning Services
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