Joyce Madeline Grabow

Joyce Kingsbury was born to Carol (Olson) Kingsbury on April 14, 1941. This date marked the first chapter to a book that ended with happiness and Christmas spirit on December 4th, 2025 where she passed peacefully in her sleep at her home on The Farm with close family present. She was age 84. Joyce spent her earliest years growing up in Minneapolis, MN. She attended Nokomis Middle School where she ran for class president under the slogan “Make the right choice, vote for Joyce” before attending Roosevelt High School. The early years were not easy, but it was here that a lifetime bond between her sisters Carolyn, Joan, Robin, along with little brother Jimmy began.This bond would transcend the many obstacles she would face throughout life. She and her sisters would watch each other study music, start a sewing business, find new love and survive tremendous heartbreak. She married Keith Klingelhut, becoming a young mother, and raising her three children: oldest Gary, middle Greg, and her youngest Julie. When her children were older, she worked at the Metropolitan Center with her daughter. This experience would give glimpses to the biggest legendary musical performers of the time such as Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, and Prince. Joyce’s passion for live music performances stayed with her and she eagerly attended concerts like Queen, with Adam Lambert, and P!nk up through her final years. Later in life she worked for many years in assisted living, bringing joy to residents with her sewing creations and always lending a listening ear to whoever needed one. She lives on in her grandchildren Nikki, Natalie, Gabby, Brenna, and Trevor, She found immense joy in being a Great Aunt to Alice and Willow, and Great Grandmother to Kennedy. She is survived by her oldest sister Carolyn, brother Jimmy and her three children Gary, Greg, and Julie, their spouses, and of course, the children and grandchildren of her sisters. All of them she loved dearly. We will continue to share stories of her quirky personality and feverish quest for the little joys in life. Because when life gave Joyce lemons, she Googled 10 different recipes, ordered a juicer from Amazon, then finally popped open a packet of Crystal Light and made herself and her loved ones some much-appreciated lemonade.

She truly embodied “It is the happiness in the journey that matters, not the destination”.