MADISON - Joy Elizabeth Wiggert, 55, of Madison, Wis., died on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021.

Joy was born in 1966 in Washington, D.C., to Elizabeth and Victor Wiggert, who were both Wisconsin natives. She graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High in 1984 and then returned to the family’s ancestral roots to attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison. There she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Psychology. In doing so she followed in the footsteps of her parents, Elizabeth and Victor, who graduated from UW-Madison in Chemistry and Meteorology, respectively, her grandmother, Lillian (Scheuber) Cooper, who graduated with a Ph.D. in Library Science and her grandfather, Delmer Cooper, who was a Professor of Genetics. Following her graduation, Joy stayed in Madison working first as a job placement counselor at Education & Training Assoc. and most recently as an information and assistance specialist for the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) within Dane County’s Department of Human Services.

Joy was a member of the First Unitarian Society of Madison, where she sang in the choir for many years. She enjoyed bird watching, hiking, traveling and visiting preserves / parks throughout the U.S., listening to music, and was an avid reader. She especially loved relaxing at home by the fireplace with a good book with her kitties, Cleo and LuLu, draped over her for added warmth. Joy’s true gift was building friendships with everyone around her. Whether it was marching band, playing softball, working on associations and committees, collaborating with co-workers, singing in choir, engaging with friends’ children, or having tea with the Tea Dames, she shared her beautiful spirit, hugs, laughter, and love with everyone around her.

Joy is survived by her brother, Jeremy “Jerry” Wiggert of Slidell, La.; her uncle, Robert “Bob” Cooper of La Quinta, Calif.; and many devoted friends. The family would like to thank the staff of Agrace HospiceCare for providing Joy with such supportive care over the past two months, which provided a peaceful and comfortable haven with great views of the birds visiting the feeders outside her window.

A celebration of life for Joy and Beth Wiggert will be held at FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF MADISON, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2022. For those joining in person, masks will be required indoors. A livestream link will be available for those unable to attend in person on the Gunderson Funeral & Cremation Care website. The livestream will be viewable on YouTube beginning at 10:45 a.m. on the day of the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to First Unitarian Society - Madison Music Program (https://fusmadison.org), Gilda’s Club Madison (www.gildasclubmadison.org) or The Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org). Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Joy Wiggert

October 16, 1966 - November 08, 2021

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