Joy Beverly Ryerson of Chesterfield, Missouri, passed away on April 21, 2025, at ninety-six years old. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Ryerson Sr., and her daughter, Barbara Ryerson. Joy was born in southern California in 1928 and relocated soon after to Wisconsin. She was a loving wife to Robert Sr. for fifty-eight years until his passing in 2012, and they raised five children together: Barbara Ryerson, Patricia Ryerson, Rita Ryerson (Bill), Robert Ryerson Jr. (Angie), and Richard Ryerson (Patti). One of the highlights of Joy’s life was being a grandmother to her ten grandchildren: Robert, Stephanie, Nicholas (Charlotte), Nils, Leif, Olen (Sarah), Halen, Stina, Robert III, and Erika.
Joy had an interesting, and what some might consider an all-American, upbringing. She was the granddaughter of Swedish Immigrants, and at only a few months old was sent to be raised by her Aunt Tena on the family farm near Shell Lake, Wisconsin. It was there, in the heart of the Great Depression, that she developed a toughness and work ethic indicative of the Scandinavian immigrants who called that part of America home.
Following the Second World War, Joy was one of two students from her high school to go to college, earning her associate’s degree in business in Minneapolis. Prior to starting a family, she worked in various positions, applying her work ethic, quick wit, and intelligence to everything she did. She was passionate about the real estate business as well as real estate investing, working as a realtor with Gundaker in Chesterfield, Missouri, for many years.
In addition to her interests in business and real estate, Joy was passionate about education, and to that end always pushed those around her (family and friends) to be the best they could be. In retirement, she and Robert enjoyed travelling the world and experiencing other cultures. Those that knew her know that she could start a conversation with anyone, and one of her favorite aspects of travelling was hearing the locals’ stories. She shared many entertaining stories of talking to people on her travels which spanned from Norway to Singapore. She and Robert (a World War Two veteran) were also active in both the national and St. Louis chapters of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society, and enjoyed the fellowship of travelling to reunions with that group over the years.
Joy will be dearly missed by those family and friends who knew and loved her.