Joyce M. Richards

Joyce was born in Huntersville, Minn., on Sept. 25, 1933, daughter of the late Alfred and Esther (Marlow) Kussatz.

She was a graduate of Sebeka High School with the Class of 1951, where she took many business classes. Joyce worked in the office at the Sebeka Co-op Creamery for four years.

Joyce married her first husband, Duane Dobson, in January of 1955 and enjoyed 34 years of marriage until his passing in 1989. Duane worked for the Cleveland Cliffs Mining Company in Minnesota and was given the chance to transfer to the U.P. operations in 1969, where they settled and made their home in the West Ishpeming area.

She later married Theodore “Sam” Richards in 1995 and enjoyed almost 25 years of marriage until Sam’s passing in 2020. Joyce worked as an office manager for many years at Northern Automatic Electric Foundry.

Joyce was a member of Hope Free Evangelical Lutheran Church, served as the Den Mother for the Boy Scouts and taught religion classes while living in Minnesota. Joyce played in integral role in developing the bingo program at the American Legion Post 114, which benefited the legion and their fundraising events greatly. She served as president for 18 years as well as holding other board positions, including secretary and treasurer over the years. Joyce was a devoted auxiliary member of the American Legion, where she received one of the highest recognitions and was awarded the title of Auxiliary Member of the Year for the U.P.

Joyce enjoyed sewing, gardening, doing crossword puzzles, camping, fishing and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cherished taking her grandkids for her yearly summer Grandma’s week.

Joyce is survived by two children, Terry (Carrie) Dobson and Connie (Ross) Tresedder; sister LeAnn Bartol; five stepchildren, Harold (Karen) Richards, Sam (Rae) Richards, Mary Jane (Butch) Laakso, Dale (Judy) Richards, Nick Richards; stepdaughter-in-law Tonja Richards, eight grandchildren, Nicholas Dobson, Caitlin Dobson, Bradley (Rebecca) Dobson, Spencer (Shelly) Dobson, Ty (fiancee Saraa) Dobson, Brian (Alyssa) Tresedder, Abby (Cole) Hodge, Hannah (Brandon) Mitchell; eight great-grandchildren, Chase Dobson, Art and Vail Tresedder, Hailey, Brayden, Hope, and Gabriel Hodge, with great-grandson baby Mitchell on the way; along with many nieces and nephews and numerous Richards grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband Duane Dobson; son Larry Dobson; second husband Sam Richards; stepdaughter Margo Kari; stepson Bill Richards; and six siblings, Floyd Kussatz, Melvin Kussatz, Jean Steffens, Gary Kussatz, Marvin Kussatz and Gordy Kussatz.

Joyce’s family will greet relatives and friends on Friday, March 6, at the Bjork and Zhulkie Funeral Home, 400 N. Third St. in Ishpeming, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Eastern time. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time, with Joyce’s grandson, Ty Dobson, officiating. Interment will take place in the Ishpeming Cemetery in the spring/summer.

Joyce’s obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com, where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.