Jeanne Joyce (Blide) Williquett
Jeanne Joyce (Blide) Williquett rode off into the sunset with her five-kid posse at her side in Reno, Nevada on April 30, 2015. Born in Faith, SD, Jeanne Joyce raced through the dusty streets with her sister, Joanne (Joyce) Keck under the wise and wonderful eyes of her father, True Joseph Joyce, and mother, Nora (McCormack) Joyce. She graduated Valedictorian of Faith HS and earned her RN diploma from Presentation School of Nursing, Aberdeen, SD. Seeking a life of adventure and travel, Jeanne entered the Navy Nurse Corps where she served from 1953 to 1955. Here she met her husband, Daniel Blide, a handsome Navy fighter pilot. Five children (Tim Blide, Hudson, WI; Mike Blide, Pat Blide, Tom Blide, all of Sierraville, CA, and Katie Blide Herzog, Spokane, WA) and several moves later, Jeanne was faced with one of her greatest challenges that honed the scrappy fighter we all know and love. As a single parent, she took a job in Wisconsin at Hudson Memorial Hospital where she served as an ER and OR Supervisor from 1967-1987. Known as the “IV and CPR Queen,” Jeanne irrigated many a scraped knee, saved numerous lives, and won several awards as editor of the hospital newspaper. Jeanne’s stellar writing and passion for justice resulted in many published letters to the editor, from local newspapers to TIME Magazine.
Jeanne remarried in 1984 to Loren Williquett and they moved to Tucson, AZ in 1987 where they spent 25 wonderful years golfing, swimming, and hosting friends and family. Jeanne continued working as a nurse in Tucson until retiring from Casa de la Luz Hospice at the age of 72. In 2012, she moved to Reno, NV to be closer to kids and enjoy the Sierras. Jeanne never underestimated the power of lilacs in bloom, an honest Christmas letter, a spoiled dog, a dry martini, a good cry, a great outfit, and swearing like you mean it! Jeanne leaves behind many hilarious memories, love for friends and family, and a legacy of fighting the good fight.
Jeanne will be remembered with great love and admiration. We ask you celebrate Jeanne’s life in a manner you know she would appreciate, be it a walk in the wild flowers, cheering on a favorite Kentucky Derby horse, a toast over a nice bottle of wine, or sharing a good story. In lieu of flowers, Jeanne asks you consider making a contribution to Casa de la Luz, 7740 N. Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704, or your local Humane Society.
