Obituary of Joyce Helen Bahnsen

  Joyce Bahnsen passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at the age of 98. She was surrounded by her family.

  Joyce was born in Roseland Community Hospital, Chicago, III, December 17, 1925, daughter of Alfred and Nell (Borst) Duggan, sister of Dorothy Larson and Lois Borgardt.

  Graduate of: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA. an MA in Art/Interior Design Graduate of: Santa Clara University, MA in Psychology; Licensed: Marriage Family Counselor; State of California and Licensed Hospital Administrator, State of California.

  Seven-year Member of Gold Country Artists Gallery, Placerville, CA., Former member of Placerville Arts Association, Silk Painters International with Published art work in Sunset Magazine of the Wrigley Estate in Chicago, and a more recent publication in "The Fine Art of Painting on Silk" by J. Janet & Diane Tuckmann. A former owner of Art Studio 360, at 360 Main St., Placerville, CA. where she displayed her extensive art in watercolors, oils and painted silk/cotton wearable art.

  In her employment history, during WWII, Joyce worked for the Army Air Force Materiel Command, Chicago Loop, and later became an airline hostess with TWA, (Trans-world Airline), where she met her husband, Dr. Robert Rawers. Joyce joined him in Sendai, Japan, 18 months after marriage where their first child was born. Later after raising a family, trained and licensed became a Hospital Administrator in several Skilled Nursing Facilities in the Bay Area as well as Harbor Hills a 99-bed locked psychiatric Hospital in Santa Cruz, Calif.; Administrator in a 99-bed, and a 33-bed facility in San Andreas, California. Her employment also included an Art Instructor, West Valley College as well as Director, Catholic Social Services, Sacramento, CA., leading to her retirement.

  Needing continuing education hours as Administrator and her love of foreign travel, Joyce visited the Far East, including a tour to visit the interior of the Great Pyramid; walked the Great Wall of China; sunset at the Ayers Rock monolith in Australia, as well as toured with fellow artists to the many capitals of Europe.

  She is survived by daughters, Robyn and Wendy (Steve) of Placerville, CA and sons, Terry (JoAnna) of Riverbank, CA and Kevin (Marty) of Raleigh, NC; her grandchildren, Holly (Joe), Robert (Norma), Mark (Kristin), Eric (Sarah), Kelly (Jon), and Erik (Stacy); great-grandchildren, Lylah, Mirabelle, Poppy, Clementine, Terry, Remington, Ethan, Christopher, James, Kathryn, Cara, and Rory.