CONNORS, Joyce

Photo courtesy: Dubuque Today

CONNORS, Joyce. (Cuba City, WI, May 5, 1946--Cedar Rapids, IA, Sept. 15, 2023). Joyce was the third of five children of Dominic J. and Mary Louise (Richardson) McWilliams. She graduated in 1964 from Cuba City High School, where she was senior class president. She moved to Dubuque when she was 19 years old and worked at the JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS where she met Tom Connors. They married on June 24, 1967.

Joyce was a stay-at-home mom for many years, raising the children, running the household and volunteering at her church, the kids’ school and the Dubuque community. About the time Joyce turned 40 she decided to go to college. She enrolled at CLARKE UNIVERSITY where she obtained a Bachelor of Psychology degree. Upon graduation, Joyce was hired to develop a domestic violence prevention program in Galena, Illinois. A year later she was hired by CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE where she provided unplanned pregnancy counseling to teenagers and was promoted to Director of the Adoption Program.

In 2004, Joyce was named as the first Director of the newly created Office for Protection of Children. She retired in 2007. In 2001, Joyce was first elected to the Dubuque City Council, representing Ward 3, and served for 16 years. She prided herself on being a good listener and very approachable. Service to others was always an important component in Joyce’s life; as a volunteer, a counselor, and as an elected official.

Joyce was a member of Cathedral of St. Raphael, Rotary Club of Dubuque, the board of the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY YMCA/YWCA and was inducted to the Dubuque County Democratic Party Hall of Fame.

She was the recipient of the 2015 Ann Michalski Distinguished Service Award.

---

Source:

Dubuque County Democratic Party Hall of Fame. Online: http://www.dbqdemocrats.org/about-us/hall-of-fame-inductees/