Joy Marie Dolan

Joy Dolan, age 66, of Appleton, passed away Thursday, November 12, 2020, in the St. Cloud Hospital.  Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 p.m., Monday, November 16, 2020, at the Catholic Church in Appleton.  Visitation will continue from 10 – 11 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 17, 2020, at the Catholic Church in Ortonville.  Fr. Brian Oestreich will officiate.  Burial will be in Appleton City Cemetery. ***Masks will be required and social distancing will be observed***

Joy Marie Dolan was born July 22, 1954, in Appleton, Minnesota, the daughter of Leo P. and LaVonne “Bonnie” (Whelan) McTighe.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Catholic Church in Appleton.  Joy was raised in the Appleton area where she attended school and graduated, Class of 1972.  On June 12, 1976, Joy was united in marriage to Timothy Mark Dolan at St. John’s Catholic Church, by Fr. Eugene Brown.  This union was blessed with over 44 years together and four children: Heather, Joseph, Matthew, and Benjamin.

Joy lived and worked in the Appleton area her entire life.  Most recently, she worked for the Spirit of Life AFC, Catholic Outreach Ministry where she worked with four parishes.  Prior to that, she worked with the Prairie Five Head Start Program as Family Advocate for over 20 years. Before that, Joy was a stay-at-home mom.  She was very active in the community, where she was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, Appleton, Altar & Rosary Society, the Appleton Jaycees, the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary, and the Appleton Women of Today.  Joy was a helper…helping others in any way possible. She was a Religious Education teacher for many years, helped with a coat drive each winter, assisted with the Red Cross Bloodmobile, delivered Meals-on-Wheels, volunteered at the Swift County Food Shelf, Toys for Tots, and Hospice, and was Chair of Ben’s 2020 MN for House Campaign.

Joy enjoyed watching sporting events, especially baseball, going to plays and musicals, watching her favorite TV shows: Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Magnum P. I., Alaskan Bush People, and Dancing with the Stars, and having coffee with the ladies.  For 20 years she enjoyed calling her sister, Colleen, every night at 10 p.m.  Joy and Tim liked going on golf outings and car rides around the area. More than anything, Joy loved spending time with her three awesome grandsons: Tyler, Tyson, and Jayden.

Joy passed away, Thursday, November 12, 2020, in the St. Cloud Hospital.  She attained 66 years, 3 months, and 20 days of age.  Joy is survived by her husband, Tim Dolan of Appleton; children: Heather Dolan (Brent Crouch) of Denver, CO, Joseph Dolan, Matthew Dolan, and Benjamin Dolan, all of Appleton; three grandsons: Tyler, Tyson, and Jayden Dolan; nephew, Roger Johnson; brothers-in-law: Kenneth (Marie) Dolan of Marshall, Michael (Cela) Dolan of Edina, Larry (Linda) Dolan of Sartell, Dan (Linda) Dolan of Montevideo, Terry (Susan) Dolan of Edina, Neil (Linda) Dolan of Lucan and Bob (Peggy) Dolan of Milroy; sisters-in-law, Jean (Donnie) Schmidt of Milroy, Janette (Steve) LaVoy of Tracy, Rosemary (Steve) Oakland of Fulda, Mary (Bob) Anderson of Eden Prairie, and Patty Dolan of Eden Prairie; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo P. and LaVonne “Bonnie” McTighe; her parents in law, Joseph and Evelyn Dolan; and her sister, Colleen McTighe.  Blessed be the memory of Joy Dolan.