Joyce K. (Reichert) Moran

Joyce Kathleen (Reichert) Moran, 83, of Brainerd, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at Essentia Health – St. Joseph’s Medical Center. She was surrounded by family. 

Out of respect to Joyce’s wishes, no funeral service or viewing will be held. There will be a celebration of life at the Luminary Room - Northern Pacific Center on Thursday July 7th, 2022 from 1-4 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation or the Crow Wing County Historical Society. 

Joyce was born in a blizzard March 18, 1939, at Crow Wing Lake in Brainerd Minnesota, the third of four daughters, to J. Elmer and Phoebe Reichert. She married Leo Moran on July 25, 1959, and they raised their three children at the lake.

Joyce graduated from Brainerd High School in 1955, at age sixteen. With three small children to care for and family nearby, she began college in 1969 by taking night classes at Brainerd Lakes College. She completed her B.A. in English, commuting to St. Cloud State for additional classes and then later added a Master’s degree from St. Cloud State in 1987.

Joyce started her work life at age sixteen with a position at the Crow Wing County Treasurer’s office; she would often refer to this opportunity as “her favorite job”.  When she married Leo, they briefly moved to Los Angeles CA, then returned to work together for many years expanding the family business, Reichert Bus Service. For a time, Joyce drove a bus route in South Brainerd. Joyce started teaching Business Communications courses at the Brainerd Technical College after completing her degrees and then made the transition to Central Lakes College when the two schools merged. She worked for more than twenty years as a college instructor. In addition to her employment, Joyce volunteered at Crow Wing State Park, where she gave talks on the history of Old Crow Wing. She was an expert on Old Crow Wing and Brainerd as her family had been early settlers there, and enjoyed a passion for genealogy.

Joyce will be remembered as a warm and generous mother, friend, and co-worker. Her curiosity and enjoyment of learning will always be cherished, and she instilled that same curiosity and sense of wonder in each of her children and grandchildren. Family was everything to Joyce, a storied memory of her community, her parents’ values and experiences, and the sisterhood of growing up with three sisters. Joyce was known as an excellent baker and cook, particularly her sugar cookies—and she was also known to take extra butter with her just so as not to run short away from home. Recently when asked what her own epitaph would be she wrote: “She made good sugar cookies.” Reading was also one of Joyce’s great pleasures that opened up a world of diverse experiences and lifelong learning for her. The power of literature helped shape her into an open-minded person who encouraged independent thinking and tolerance. For over eighty-one of her eighty-three years, Joyce loved watching the changing seasons, wildlife and weather around her home on Crow Wing Lake.

Joyce is survived by her children, Mike (Linda) Moran of Brainerd; Mark (Kristen) Moran of Lake Shore; and Laurel (Jay) Brown of Carlsbad, California; five grandchildren, Stephen, Grace, Peter, Carter, and Phoebe; sisters Joan Norman, Carol Erkens, and Gae Wicklund; special friend Sam Wicklund, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joyce K. (Reichert) Moran, please visit our floral store.