Joyce Joanne Brown
March 08, 1940 - June 30, 2026
Obituary
Joyce J. Amorde Brown passed away peacefully in her home on June 30, 2026.
Joyce was born on March 8, 1940, to Oscar and Ellen (Johnson) Amorde in Superior, Wisconsin, the second of five children.
She grew up on the family dairy farm then moved to Madison in 1958, to attend UW Nursing School on a full scholarship. While attending nursing school, she met and married the love of her life, Thomas Brown, in 1960. She completed her Nursing degree in 1963 and dedicated 40 years of her life to caring for others as a Registered Nurse, raised four children, and worked alongside Tom as owners of Trace-Way Mobil and Auto Clinic until his death in 1989.
Joyce met Gary Hendrickson on a date to go dancing and they quickly became “Sweethearts” and he became family. The two of them have happily spent the past 20+ years making new memories and loving everything that life has to offer including family, friends, travel, cooking and just enjoying being together until the very end.
Joyce enjoyed many hobbies but especially loved time at her cabin in Northern Wisconsin where she had been making memories with family and friends her entire life. She loved to be outdoors in any season, crocheting, traveling, hiking, and was a member of the Dairyland Walking Club.
Joyce is Survived by her children, Bob (Debbie) Brown, Susan (Steven) Wedvick, Jeffrey (Joanne) Brown and Sandra Payas; partner, Gary Hendrickson; brothers, Eugene Amorde and Richard Amorde; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Brown; parents, Oscar and Ellen Amorde; granddaughter, Holly Payas; and siblings, Alice Baski and William Amorde; and Richard Holm.
A visitation will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 2950 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, followed by funeral service at 12 noon and lunch. Burial will take place at Sunset Memory Gardens, Madison, at 3 p.m.
Memorials in Joyce's honor may be made to Agrace HospiceCare. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608) 442-5002