Paul Joyce

Paul Michael Joyce, 86, of Park Rapids, Minnesota, passed away at home on Saturday, October 30th, 2021. Paul was born on February 17, 1935, in Buffalo, NY, the son of Charles E. and Dorothy M (Kern) Joyce. He began his education in Buffalo and Ft. Erie, Ontario, then Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, MN, graduating in 1953. He went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. As an Army ROTC Cadet at Minnesota, Paul was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Reserve in 1957 and was later elevated to the rank of Captain. He was united in marriage to Kathleen (Kay) Lynch in 1958. They lived in Minneapolis and later moved to Hopkins, MN, where Paul worked for Red Owl Stores as manager of corporate graphics & packaging, and later, franchise operations. Paul and Kay were blessed with three sons: Mark, Patrick, and Daniel. Paul was an avid outdoorsman! He loved fishing and hunting in Northern Minnesota and especially the greater Park Rapids area beginning in the 1960’s, where his parents had built a home on Straight Lake (Osage). After moving from the Twin Cities to Osage in 1992, Paul and Kay have lived continuously in the Osage and more recently the Park Rapids areas, where they were active at St. Theodore Catholic Mission in Ponsford. Paul was a dedicated member of the Osage Lion’s Club where he served as Director and also President. Paul was a big train buff and co-founded the Minnesota Transportation Museum, which spearheaded the Como-Harriet streetcar project during the 1970’s. In the 1980’s, Paul was appointed by then-Governor Al Quie to serve as a commissioner on the Metropolitan Transit Commission, which led in later years to light-rail transportation in the Twin Cities metro area. Paul will be lovingly remembered by his wife Kay, his sister Linda Smith and her daughter Ruth from Edina, MN; his sons Mark from Rochester, MI, Patrick (Jean) from Wayzata, MN, and Daniel (Nikki) from Northridge, CA; his grandchildren Katie Joyce, Jarrod Joyce, Jameson (Emily) Joyce, Remington Joyce and Zoe Joyce. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers-in-law Richard Smith, Col. Donald Lynch, Kenneth Lynch and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Paul would like to be remembered as someone who was proud to be an American and who tried to live his life responsibly and honorably.