Joyce Ann Barczyk Tribute

November 15, 1948 - July 14, 2022
Joyce passed away peacefully with her husband John at her side in their home in Lakeville, Michigan at the age of 73 after a long, courageous battle with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Immediately after Joyce’s passing, John started working on this tribute video for her. He had accumulated many great photos of their happy life together, but could not come up with the appropriate music for it. Joyce’s wonderful caregiver of the past 3 years, Tammy Underwood, suggested “The Dance,” a Garth Brooks song. John said that a song about a dance did not seem to fit. Then Tammy played “The Dance” for John on his Echo. His opinion changed instantly. It was perfect.

Garth Brooks was a favorite of Joyce’s. She attended his concerts, and even saw him in person at the CMA awards in 1991 when he was named Entertainer of the Year for the first time. So John went to their antique ice box where their CDs were stored. There in a big stack of Garth Brooks CDs was one that was never played. It still had the price tag and cellophane wrapper on it. It had to be the last CD Joyce ever bought. The last song on that CD was “The Dance.” Joyce never got to play it.

After that discussion, Tammy needed to go to the store. When she got in her car and turned on her radio, it immediately played a Garth Brooks song, “The Dance.” It was clear that “The Dance” would be the soundtrack for this video tribute.

Joyce graduated from Lorain High School in 1966. She pursued her dream of helping others and became a Registered Nurse at the Maumee Valley School of Nursing in Toledo, Ohio. Whether it was the day or overnight shift, she was dedicated to her patients and worked hard in the intensive care unit at Bay City General Hospital in Bay City, Michigan, the emergency room at McPherson Hospital in Howell, Michigan, and at the Balian Eye Center in Rochester, Michigan. Joyce was also an active fundraiser for the American Heart Association. She will be remembered for many things including her bright smile that seemed to be always shining.

Joyce and John were married in the Nativity Church in Lorain, Ohio on Aug. 30, 1969. They enjoyed boating, fishing, snow skiing, kayaking and traveling. They traveled throughout Europe, went cave snorkeling in Mexico, whitewater rafting in Colorado, fishing in Alaska and Montana, attending Broadway musicals in New York City, biking through Acadia National Park in Maine, and attended a gospel brunch at Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, Texas. Over their 50+ years, Joyce and John watched hundreds of sunsets together from their deck overlooking Lakeville Lake. Joyce loved being with her family more than anything and relished cooking holiday meals for them, decorating birthday cakes, Joyce was a true lady who often mediated debates among her four children about the best collegiate football team (Kristen, Matt and Amanda went to University of Michigan and Johnathan to Michigan State), always with a smile.