Obituary for Joy Martin

Joy Anne (Carlson) Martin, 63, of West Salem, WI passed on Friday, June 10th, at UW Health in Madison, WI. Joy was born on May 18th, 1959 in La Crosse, WI to Maynard and Doris (Strauss) Carlson. To know Joy, was to know JOY. A woman who truly lived up to her name and touched so many people throughout her lifetime. Joy graduated from West Salem High School in 1977. She married the love of her life, David Lee Martin on February 6th, 1982. They had 40 years of marriage. Joy became a mother three times to Ashley, Zach, and Jesse. Her career as a graphic artist spanned 38 years, working closely with clients and companies to develop brands, advertisements, and later in her career she specialized in Wedding invitations and paper goods. Joy was an intensely creative person. Artistic, curious, up-beat, bold, strong, and many more things that words could never capture. Joy was the type of woman who would strike up conversation with anyone and learn the most interesting things about them. This is one of the things that made her so great at her career, she cared deeply about others. Joy was a woman of many interests. Her broad spectrum of hobbies included, but were not limited to, horseback riding, camping, cultural and historical studies, art, jewelry creation, sewing, writing, canning, gardening, baking, bible study and being a Sunday school teacher, genealogy, and many more things. Eccentric, and exciting are a few more words that encompass who Joy was. History was her passion, and in the last few years you could find her intensely researching her family’s genealogy on all her sides and also Dave’s. She became a mentor to others in this area, teaching them how to do the same, and helping many people create family history books. Joy was a fabulous Nana to all 6 of her grandchildren, and enjoyed each and every opportunity to have them. Her grandchildren too, would take every opportunity to be with her. Joy is survived by her husband, David, her children Ashley Kendall, Zach Martin, Jesse (Cassie) Martin, 6 grandchildren – Joey, Jackson, Ashton, Ava, Colton, and Layne. 6 brothers and sisters – Greg (Cindy) Bergh of West Salem, John (Reetta) Bergh of West Salem, Corky (Steve) Severson of Mindoro, Jill (Mark) Schomberg of West Salem, Kristin Carlson of West Salem, Richard (Sandy) Carlson of West Salem. As well as many nieces and nephews. Joy was preceded in death by her parents Maynard and Doris Carlson, and her loving in-laws Dallas and Sylbe Martin both of West Salem, WI. Funeral arrangements are set for Saturday, June 25th, 2022. A visitation will be held at Christ Lutheran in West Salem, WI from 9am-11am, with the funeral service and luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Christ St. John's Lutheran Tuition Assistance Fund in West Salem, WI.