Joan Luce, 75 of Oshkosh, died April 27, 2011 at Evergreen Retirement Community where she had resided since November 2003. Joan was born May 24, 1935 in San Francisco, California the second daughter of the late John S. and Audrey R. Luce. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati as a violist. Joan taught at Arkansas State University in Russellville for two years, after which she attended graduate school at the University of Michigan and earned a PhD in Musicology.
Dr. Luce joined the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Music Department faculty in September 1969. In addition to teaching a variety of classes in Music Appreciation, Music History and Literature, and applied viola, she was the Associate Dean of Fine & Performing Arts in the College of Letters and Science. Prior to her retirement in 1998, Joan served as Music Department Chair for three years.
Joan performed with Chamber groups throughout Europe, the Midwest, and on Wisconsin Public Radio and Television. She was principal violist with the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, the Haydn Festival Orchestra in Eisenstadt, Austria, the International Chamber Orchestra at Roehampton Music Festival in England, and the Green Lake Festival Orchestra in Green Lake, Wisconsin. Grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Aston Magna Academy as well as UW Oshkosh faculty development grants enabled her to study in Sweden, England, and Germany. Joan was an avid traveler as well as an amateur photographer.
Joan is survived by a sister, Audrey L. Davis and a nephew, John, both of Lancaster, California. She will be fondly remembered by many friends and former students, as well as the caring staff and residents in Creekview South at Evergreen. The exemplary care Joan received from the Evergreen staff over the years is very much appreciated, as well as the excellent care she received from the staff of Heartland Hospice during the past four months.
A memorial service led by Evergreen's Pastor Alice Riemer-McKee will be held to celebrate Joan's life on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. in the Creekview South Household 8 at Evergreen Retirement Community, 1130 N. Westfield Street. Memories may be shared online at www.seefeldfuneral.com.
Contributions in Joan's memory may be made to the UW Oshkosh Foundation Music Scholarship Fund, to the Evergreen Foundation, Inc. Benevolent Care Fund, or to a charity of your choice.
Seefeld Funeral and
Cremation Services
(920) 236-7750