Madison, WI - Joyce Ann McElmurry (Ziesch), age 83, entered into eternal life on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at her daughter Michele’s home in Lone Tree, Colorado. Born on May 2, 1943, in Madison, WI, the daughter of Henry & Lillian(Anderson) Ziesch. She was the only daughter and was fondly known as “Sis” by her 3 brothers.

She grew up on a small farm and loved to reminisce about their life and those happy times. She graduated from Madison East High in 1961. She started working at Baker Tilly right after high school and continued there until her retirement after almost 50 years. She truly enjoyed working there and the people that she worked with. She married Gary A. McElmurry on May 23, 1964. They remained happily married 52 years until he passed away in 2016. They were the love of each other’s lives and we take comfort that they are now together eternally. She was an active member of Lakeview Lutheran Church, where she was a board member, a Sunday school teacher, was part of the counting team, and was a mentor to many members. She loved flowers and spending time in the yard gardening. She loved to travel and visit different places. She enjoyed music and musical theatre, she loved to sing, she would often hum around the house. She loved watching Wisconsin sports. Her and Gary often took their daughters to hockey games where she was a very enthusiastic fan. Beside her husband, Gary, her main love was her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time with them. She loved watching her granddaughters in rugby, dance, and theater performances.

She is survived by her daughters, Michele Doring and Melinda McElmurry; granddaughters, Morgan McElmurry and Keely Doring; brother, John Ziesch (Barb) and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Lillian Ziesch, her beloved husband Gary, two brothers, Robert Ziesch (Sybil), Walter Ziesch (Edith), her niece, Diane Laes (Don).

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Lakeview Lutheran Church, 4001 Mandrake Rd, Madison, on Friday November 6, 2026, with Rev. Darin Wiebe officiating. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial to follow the service at Lakeview Lutheran Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to: The Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund https://secure.wiscmedicine.org/give/?campaign=CA1032689&custom=med02&group=alzheimersuw&id=a1J5f000004A8LYEA0 or Lakeview Lutheran Church.

A special thanks to her daughter Michele and granddaughter Keely for their loving care of Joyce during the final years of her life

Joyce Ann McElmurry

May 02, 1943 - October 22, 2026

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