Joyce Emma (Leppanen) Motzkus

Joyce Emma (Leppanen) Motzkus, 85, passed March 13, 2015, in her longtime home in Sutton surrounded by her family.

Joyce was born July 31, 1929, and grew up in Alpha, Michigan. Joyce married John Leppanen, who lived in the neighboring town of Caspian. Together they moved to Palmer, where John’s sisters Fannie Wirtanen and Inie Cooper were living. Settling in Palmer, John was a partner in Westside Union gas station and Joyce managed Hillside Cabins. They moved to Sutton in 1952 and built their home to replace the old Yerbich cabin that was on the property.

Joyce was mother to three children: Lynne Woods, Lori Lyman, and Larry Leppanen. Throughout the years Joyce worked at Callison’s produce farm, the Alpine Inn and at Jonesville Mine. She also ran the Alpine Inn and Café a number of years after the original Alpine burned down. She volunteered for the Alpine Civic Club at the Community Hall and the original Sutton Library.

After John passed in 1978, she married friend Robert (Bob) Motzkus and together built a home on property she owned since the 1950s on Wasilla Lake. Joyce always enjoyed a day where she could be in a boat catching a fish. Joyce was an avid fisherwoman and loved to hunt. She remembered walking all over the Wishbone Lake, Jonesville and Mrak mining areas to hunt. In later years fishing the Little Su and hunting near Eureka were her favorite stories.

Joyce always had a garden and greenhouse. In the five-acre field behind her home she even grew vegetables to sell to Callison’s farm. The potatoes were used in the French fries she and the family served at the Alaska State Fair in their food both for 10 years. She also liked that the left over cabbage leaves fed the many moose that came to the field in winter.

Joyce is survived by her sister, Vivian Voelker of Michigan; John Spokes of Arizona; daughter, Lynne Woods of Sutton; son, Larry and his wife Barbara Leppanen of Sutton; five grandchildren, Chelsea Leppanen, John (L.J.) Leppanen, Russell Woods, Marnice Marshall, and Deon MacMillan; and six great grandchildren, Alex Marshal, Jacob Marshall, Emily Woods, Taryn MacMillin, Loryn MacMillan, and Camryn McMillan.

Joyce's celebration of life is at 5 p.m., Aug. 3 at her original home in Sutton, Mile 62, Glenn Highway. There will be a potluck barbeque.