Joyce Anna Drayton Eggleson

Joyce Drayton Eggleson passed away peacefully on May 25, 2026. She was born on July 3rd, 1932 at Sycamore Hospital, Sycamore, Illinois to Horace and Fannie (Rasmussen) Drayton. She was a lifelong Episcopalian and attended Sycamore’s St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Here she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and was active in the women’s auxiliary. She went to West and Central Schools and later graduated from Sycamore High School in 1950. She was a student at UW-Madison in the physical therapy curriculum. She pledged the Kappa Delta sorority and became a member of the Dolphin Swim Club. Joyce met her husband, Allan W. Eggleson, at nearby Lake Kegonsa in Stoughton, Wisconsin, where her parents had lake property. Joyce’s claim to fame is that she was the first waterskier on Lake Kegonsa. She shared about never getting her swimsuit wet because she would be pulled off of the dock and dropped off in low shore water. It should also be noted that she would hook the grip bar around her neck at times while skiing. This may be what attracted Allan, who was running Amundson’s Pavilion for the summer on Lake Kegonsa just a few cottages down from her parents’ cottage. Allan is the son of Elmer and Anna (Jensen) Eggleson and grew up in Stoughton. Joyce and Allan were married in Sycamore on August 31, 1952. Allan was a soldier at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. They had four children: Teresa (Jeff Kuhrt) of New Berlin, Wisconsin; Marcia (David) Fry of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin; Eric (Donna) of Sycamore, Illinois; and Peter (Katalin Borkowski) of South Bend, Indiana. They all enjoyed her piano playing but not waking up to her singing of “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin ” as she opened the shades. There was never a crossword puzzle she couldn't handle. The extended family and cousins gathered often at Lake Kegonsa cottage, picnicking on the boathouse, swimming, learning to waterski, & the traditional challenge of trying to stand together as a group on the large tractor inner tube! They also enjoyed annual family winter downhill ski trips and spring Florida beach vacations. Singing songs, playing car games, and yes, sometimes squabbling in the backseat amongst us kids. ("Do I have to stop this car?" There are seven grandchildren: Aaron (Parisa) Fry, Drayton (Darcy) Eggleson, Halie Fry, Jordan Eggleson, Colin (Mary Rose) Eggleson, Sophia Eggleson, and Evan Eggleson. Joyce loved to share her life story, especially of her family history with friends and extended family. She wrote many poems, and also many rough drafts of this obituary. Great grandchildren include: Eliana Fry, Abigail Eggleson, Adelina Fry, Eleanor Eggleson, and Kianaz Fry, all of whom she adored. Allan and Joyce lived in Indianapolis, Indiana; St. Louis, Missouri; Endicott, New York; Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; Troy, Ohio; Sycamore, Illinois; and moved to Stoughton, Wisconsin after Allan retired in 1993. While living in Sycamore, she took classes at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois and Kishwaukee College in Malta, Illinois. Joyce loved traveling with Allan all over the United States. It was one of the many perks of being married to an auditor that had nationwide conferences to attend. They also visited Europe (skied the Alps), Canada, Mexico, and Spain. They traveled to the childhood towns of Joyce’s parents in Windsor, England and Roskilde, Denmark and to Al's relatives in Norway. She is finally reunited with the love of her life, Allan, in Eastside Cemetery, Stoughton, Wisconsin. Thanks to Stoughton Meadows for their loving care. In lieu of flowers please donate to food pantry of your choice in Joyce's memory.

A private ceremony will be held in Joyce’s honor.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

206 W. Prospect, P.O. Box 231, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com