John Joyce-Wahlert teacher

JOYCE, MAGLARIS

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/9/2016 at 18:41:09

Wahlert teacher remembered as a jovial gentleman 'Always there': John Joyce dies from acute leukemia at age 60

John Joyce was the guy people liked to eat lunch with, the guy co-workers always wanted to sit next to at faculty meetings.

"He had such a good sense of humor. He really liked the one-liners and puns," said fellow Wahlert teacher and poker buddy Tom English. "He was just a good guy to hang around."

Joyce was the teacher who made science class bearable for science-hating students.

"I usually don't like the science teachers because I don't like science, but Mr. Joyce was my favorite," said Wahlert student Dino Maglaris, 15. "He was just really down to earth and he treated everyone fairly."

Joyce, of Peosta, Iowa, died Sunday night from acute leukemia at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. He was 60 years old.

Any student who went through Wahlert High School in the past 15 years probably sat in Joyce's classroom. He taught freshman earth science and sophomore biology - both required classes.

"John touched a lot of lives," said Don Miller, chief executive officer of Holy Family Catholic Schools and former Wahlert principal. "He was a true Christian gentleman who will be missed by the whole Wahlert community."

A native of the Chicago area who came to Dubuque to attend the University of Dubuque, Joyce worked in business for several years before making teaching his second vocation. He also was a U.S. Army veteran.

Joyce was a sports fan who attended most of the school events at Wahlert, especially for his freshman students, Miller said.

"He was just a kind, compassionate man who students kind of gravitated to," Miller said. "He wasn't flashy, but he was always there for kids."

Coleen Hughes, the head of Wahlert's science department, said Joyce was passionate about earth science, and often incorporated technology in his classroom and used hands-on activities.

Joyce's interests extended beyond science, Hughes said.

"He liked to talk about art and music. He was well-versed in many things," she said. "And he always made me laugh because he had a quick wit and he was very funny."

Joyce and his wife, Pauline, have five children; three are students at Wahlert and two attend Resurrection School.

During his first bout with cancer several years ago, Joyce continued to work through chemotherapy and was positive and upbeat, Miller said. The re-occurrence of his illness was a shock, Miller said. Joyce taught through the spring 2002 semester, and colleagues said they didn't know he was sick until several weeks ago.

"We didn't see him much this summer because it all happened so fast," English said. "That's one of the things that was really hard about it."

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Resurrection Church. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Resurrection.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Wednesday, July 10, 2002