On June 4, 1949, Joyce married Robert Mitchell. During the first years of marriage, they lived in Sabula where they had three children. In 1967 the family moved to Savanna. During retirement years, Joyce and Bob loved to travel south for the winter. They celebrated 55 years of marriage until Robert's death in 2004. Joyce worked as a line worker at the Sabula Speaker Factory and Eaton Corporation in Savanna. She was an active member of the Community United Church of Christ in Savanna.