Joyce Edla Jeanette Ramsay
June 19, 1941 – June 27, 2025
Joyce Edla Jeanette (Kinnunen) Ramsay, age 84 formerly of Clarkfield, and Wolf Lake MN passed away June 27th, 2025 to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Joyce was born June 19, 1941, at Jack Pine Center, Wadena Country, MN to Jennie (Keranen) and Walter Kinnunen. She grew up in Wolf Lake MN. She lived there with her parents, brother Wallace and Grandmother Edla.
Joyce attended St. Olaf College in 1959 and joined the ROTC Navy Nurse program her Senior year in 1962 . She graduated with a bachelor’s in nursing from St. Olaf. While attending St. Olaf she met the love of her life Paul Ramsay of Northfield, October 13, 1962.
On April 22, 1963 Paul asked Joyce to be his wife. They were married on August 22, 1964, at Spruce Grove Lutheran Church, Wolf Lake MN. They lived in Chase, Maryland; Clarkfield, MN; Wolf Lake, MN; Park Rapids, MN and Edmond, OK.
Joyce was a Registered Nurse for Over 60 yrs. Her nursing career lead her to serve as a Lieutenant in the US Navy after college stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington DC. She then worked at Clarkfield Community Hospital, Clarkfield Care Center and started the Clarkfield Home Health Department. Then she worked at St Joseph’s Community Hospital in Park Rapids MN as the Director of the Home Health Department and Discharge Planner. In her free time, she kept books for Kinnunen Store, organized 5 years of auctions when Kinnunen Store closed. She was active in her faith serving as a Parish Nurse for Christ Lutheran Church, Church Secretary at both Christ Lutheran and Clarkfield Lutheran Church. Joyce enjoyed many activities with her husband Paul. Being involved with the Wolf Lake Lions club, playing her clarinet in the Montevideo, Detroit Lakes and Park Rapids Community Bands, having fun camping with the Birchwood crew, and doing crafts (sewing, knitting, crocheting, and needle work). She loved traveling and going on cruises during her retirement with Paul and accomplished her goal going to every state in the United states, plus visiting Europe and many tropical islands.
Joyce will be remembered by her family and friends as being a loving wife and mother, as caring for others and having a sparkle of joy and the love of Jesus Christ in her heart.
Joyce is survived by her Son Thomas Ramsay of Wolf Lake MN; Daughter Sara (Ramsay) Olstad of Edmond, OK; and five Granddaughters: Hanna, Myah, Ingrid, Dayana and Kaisa.
A Celebration of life will be held at Christ Lutheran Church in Wolf Lake, Minnesota at 2:00 p.m. on September 20, 2025. She will be laid to rest next to her husband Paul at Little Falls Veterans Cemetery.
She was always fun to visit with and was very good aunt. Prayers to you and Tom and your families
Patricia Kinnunen
Mrs. Walter Wallace Kinnunen
July 3, 2025
Joyce and I went to Europe together. We spent some time in Italy looking for my ancestors, and we both visited friends in Germany. We visited Mr. and Mrs. Dieter and Renn. Dieter was my pen pall since I was 12 years of age living in Massachusetts.
I have been keeping in touch with Joyce from Alaska since her illness, and enjoining our telephone visits. I will miss her very much. May she be at peace with the Lord.
Patricia