Joyce I. Hubers Upp
Joyce was born on August 30, 1950, in Parkston, South Dakota. She was the oldest child of David and Jennie Hubers. Joyce’s early years were in New Holland, South Dakota, where her parents had a farm raising dairy cattle and crops.
New Holland was where she spent her elementary school years, attending the one room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. After the death of her father, her mother sold the farm, equipment and livestock moving Joyce and her brother to Platte, South Dakota. Joyce continued her education in the Platte-Geddes school system, graduating from Platte-Geddes High School in 1968. In the fall of 1968, Joyce entered the University of South Dakota graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and Drama.
After graduation, Joyce returned to Platte, taking a position with the Platte-Geddes school system teaching. Briefly living in California, she moved to Honolulu, Hawaii. While in Hawaii she applied for a teaching position, but at that time Hawaii required a master’s degree to obtain a teaching position. Not wanting to go back to school, Joyce applied for a temporary government position. She was hired as a GS-03 temp in finance, eventually becoming a permanent employee with the Navy.
Remaining in finance, Joyce transferred to Naval Supply Center, Charleston, South Carolina. She worked at a number of commands in the Charleston area, all the while working her way up the ladder eventually reaching GS-12.
In her off time, Joyce enjoyed bowling and with a group of friends would enter state and regional tournaments. It was while Joyce was on a Space and Naval Warfare System Center bowling league she would meet John Upp. On February 9, 1998, Joyce and John would meet for a drink after bowling with neither one knowing that date would last 44 days short of 28 years.
In September 2007, Joyce retired after 35 years of federal service to move with John to Huntsville, Alabama. Joyce and John had set numerous dates to get married but something always seemed to come up. But on April 27, 2011, with tornadoes passing close to the house they got very serious about getting married. And on July 23, 2011, Joyce and John got married in a small ceremony in the living room of their home.
Always proud of her Dutch and South Dakota heritage she kept pieces of Dutch ceramics and artwork in the house. She even had a rock from the Black Hills, so she always had a piece of South Dakota in the house.
