Joyce Margaret Kidder

STOUGHTON - Joyce Margaret (Westman) Kidder, cherished wife, mom, grandma and great-grandma, passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at age 96. Born on June 29, 1929, Joyce grew up in Cadillac, Mich. She loved her hometown and could talk for ages about growing up there. She sang as a soloist for her church in Cadillac, accompanied on the piano by her mother, Margaret Westman.

Joyce still remembered the Cadillac High School fight song, singing it on her 96th birthday. She married her high school sweetheart, Elwyn Kidder, while working for the BF Goodrich Company in Cadillac. They were married for 37 years until Elwyn passed in 1989. They raised four children while living in Grand Rapids Mich., St. Paul and Mankato, Minn., Memphis, Tenn., Woodridge, Ill., and Madison Wis.; also living in Steubenville, Ohio and Mason, Mich., as empty nesters.

After her husband passed, Joyce spent the years helping care for her grandchildren whenever and wherever she was needed. With immense love and pride, she watched and participated in her children’s, grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s lives.

Treasured by her family and friends, Joyce would say she lived a full and rich life. If you asked anyone that knew her, they would describe her using words like loving, sweet, sharp, gracious, funny, giving, contented, selfless. We have the best memories of her Sunday roast beef and noodles dinners, Saturday night hamburgers, Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey dinners, Christmas popcorn balls and divinity fudge, playing carroms, and enjoying a 7 and 7.

Joyce ended up settling in Stoughton, Wis., where she lived out her remaining years. She volunteered at the Stoughton Senior Center- something she truly enjoyed, baked pies for the annual Syttende Mai celebration, enjoyed Tuesday morning coffee with her neighbors, and loved sitting on her balcony watching sunrises and sunsets, fireworks and people passing by.

Joyce is survived by her children, Carol (Dave) Hillmer, Jeff (Rose) Kidder, Ken Kidder and Nancy (Tom) Harvey; grandchildren, Matt (Danna), Brian (Casey), Lindsay, Tracy (Ryan) and Elizabeth (William "Chris"); eight great-grandchildren, Leo, Ava, Mario, Donavin, Bryce, Darius, Aria and Madison; and brother-in-law, Dean Kidder. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Margaret Westman; father and mother in-law, Henry and Dora Kidder; her husband, Elwyn; brothers, George, Gordon, Dean and Jim; and sister, Yvonne.

Joyce’s family would like to give heartfelt thanks to the staff at Stoughton Meadows Assisted Living and Agrace HospiceCare. Their loving care made mom’s last year a peaceful transition back to her husband’s companionship in heaven. In Joyce’s often repeated words, “Bless you all.”

A celebration of life is being planned by the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joyce’s name to Stoughton Meadows Assisted Living, 2321 Jackson St., Stoughton, WI 53589 or Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton

Funeral & Cremation Care

1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.

(608) 873-4590