Joyce Lorraine Ellen (Horton) Odell, age 87, of Hayward and Sun Prairie, WI, died Saturday, March 5, 2016 in Madison. Joyce was born September 13, 1928 in St. Paul, MN to Anne Treleaven and Thomas Horton. Joyce graduated from St. Paul Central High School in 1946 and from the University of Minnesota in 1949. She then attended the Ancker School of Nursing in St. Paul. Following her passion for travel and adventure, she became a Hostess for Capital Airlines and later for United Airlines when they merged in 1961. While stationed in Minneapolis and Washington DC, Joyce especially enjoyed flying routes to New York; exploring the city and attending Broadway shows. She was passionate about the outdoors and in 1957 purchased a cabin on 40 acres near the Chippewa Flowage. On February 17, 1963 she married a pilot, Robert (Bob) Odell and settled in Arlington Heights, IL, eventually moving to Hayward in 1971. Although she kept her home in Hayward, she moved to Sun Prairie in 2001 to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Joyce had a great sense of adventure and life-long love of learning. An athlete in high school, she played basketball and kittenball (softball). Joyce was a voracious reader, loved travel, cheering for her beloved Minnesota Vikings and Golden Gophers, tinkering with things and discovering how they worked, helping others and spending time outdoors in the beautiful Northwoods. Finding “treasure” with her metal detector was a special passion and she was a founding member of the Treasure, Trash and Artifacts Club. She could whistle any tune beautifully, made the best jelly ever and her hand-knit mittens were legendary amongst extended family. Above all else, she loved spending time with her grandchildren; attending an infinite number of their softball, soccer, volleyball and basketball games throughout the years. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, former husband Robert Odell, infant son Matthew, step-son Robert Odell, Jr. and a brother, Douglas Hendrickson (St. Paul). She is survived by her daughter Emily Peterson (Sun Prairie, WI), son Stephen Odell (Aurora, IL) and granddaughters Kestra, Allie and Bria Peterson (Sun Prairie, WI).
Services and internment will be private. Memorials may be directed to Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI or to the Treasure, Trash & Artifacts Club in Hayward, WI.
Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home
& Cremation Service
Sun Prairie, WI 608-837-5400
www.newcomerfh.com