Joyce Marie Hoppe April 7, 1950 – December 8, 2020 Joyce Marie Hoppe passed from this life to life eternal on December 8th, 2020 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN from AML Leukemia. Joyce was 70-years old. Joyce’s husband Bill, son Shawn and his wife Leslie, daughter Angela and her husband Adam and our Pastor, Chaplain Ken Beale were with her to pray and express their love for her. Joyce was diagnosed with this form of cancer on December 7th, 2017 and was given a prognosis of 6-months to 1-year to live. In reality, Joyce lived 3-years and 1-day after the diagnosis. Joyce was born April 7th, 1950 in Alexandria, MN to Richard and Arlene Thoennes— the first born of five children. Her family moved to Minneapolis when she was 4-years old. She is survived by her mother Arlene, sisters Kathy, Sandy, Peggy and Cheryl. Joyce married William Hoppe March 22nd, 1969 at St. Albert The Great Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Bill and Joyce met at the Sears department store on Lake Street where they were both employed. Years later, Joyce would always say in regard to her marriage: “We grew up together.” Her statement was true. Bill was inducted into the US Army in August 1970. After completing Basic and AIT, Bill was stationed overseas in Bamberg, Germany in the 2/2 Armored Cavalry Regiment. Joyce joined Bill in Germany where they lived in a 400-year old apartment building. Upon their return from Germany, they bought their first house in Minneapolis where their first child Shawn was born March 7th, 1973. Angela followed October 1st, 1981. Joyce and Bill were employed at Bill's Gun Shop in Lilydale, MN. To her credit, Joyce won the MN State Women’s Long Range Pistol Championship and many other trophies while competing in Metallic Handgun Silhouette competitions. Joyce initially enjoyed being the passenger on Bill’s motorcycles, but at the age of 53 she decided to get her license and started riding her own modified Harley Sportster. She was a member of The Black Sheep Harley Davidsons For Christ Christian Motorcycle Ministry as well as The Cross of Christ Motorcycle group. Bill and Joyce moved to Bloomington, MN in July of 1998. Joyce left Bill’s Gun Shop for a wonderful career at Best Buy’s Corporate Office in Richfield, MN. Joyce worked in the Tax Department and was loved by her coworkers— because she always expressed her concern for them and their families, and showed them the Love of Christ in her daily interactions with them. Joyce worked at Best Buy for 19-years (from 2000 to 2019) then accepted an early retirement. In 2003, Joyce partnered with Bill in establishing Plan B Firearms Consultants. Joyce had been an NRA pistol Instructor since 1990. She loved to shoot her Glock 19 pistol at the range— where she out shot some of the young police officers. In 2015, Joyce started her own side business— “Joyce’s Signs of Our Times.” She would custom make wood signs for people using her DeWalt routers and then Bill would do the finishing work. Bill and Joyce attended the worship services of Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel Foundation beginning in July 2013 and became members in September 2017. Joyce loved Chaplain Ken, and all her brothers and sisters in Christ at the Chapel. Joyce was part of the Safety Ministry of the congregation. When Joyce became too ill to attend services, she always worshipped via Livestream. She loved receiving texts from the wonderful women of the Chapel. She enjoyed talking with her friend, Leslie, and mentioned her fondly in her diary. Joyce would approach hurting people in the waiting room at Minnesota Oncology and ask them if they wanted a prayer shawl from the Chapel— which she carried when going to her treatments. She prayed out loud in the waiting room and all the folks would quietly listen as she gave witness to her faith in Christ Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Joyce gave everything to being the best wife, mother, and Christian. The last wood sign she made was after being diagnosed with Leukemia. It hangs in the living room next to the front door. It simply says: “Jesus is my Healer.” Sometime after the new year when COVID restrictions are lifted, a celebration of Joyce’s life will be held at the historic Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel. Her remains will be interred at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel Foundation at http://fortsnellingmcf.org/make_a_donation.php or mailed to: FSMCF, 9031 Penn, Bloomington, MN 55431