Joy Radzik

On Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, a beautiful soul passed from this world to be with God. A celebration of Joy's life will be held on Friday, August 19, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Mountain Home Church of the Nazarene. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Joy Magdalene Radzik, a potter and a poet, was born in Margate, England, on Oct. 9, 1925. In her youth, she survived a bombing during the War and later met and married her "Yank," Paul Radzik, on her 21st birthday in 1946.

After an assignment in Germany, they moved to the United States, where they lived with their four children as the Air Force sent them to Illinois, Texas, California and North Carolina. She was well known in her Church and the schools for her involvement in fundraising projects that were creative and fun.

In 1961, Paul retired, and they moved to California to be near family. Auntie Joy was a favorite of her many nieces and nephews who have fond memories of her eccentricities.

Joy then was inspired to study pottery and received an AA Degree in Art. She worked for the City of San Bernardino Parks and Recreation Department teaching pottery at the "Studio," where she made many lasting friendships. She really thrived in this role and generously shared her talents to promote arts education.

In 1998, Joy and Paul moved to Mountain Home to be near their oldest daughter. She continued to make pottery, and to write poetry, and was an arts advocate. Her essay on "The Necessity of Art" is on the Mountain Home Arts Council website. A tile mural, which she created, is hanging in the Parks and Recreation office in Mountain Home.

Joy was a self-educated, intelligent woman who loved learning. When her children were young, she created crossword puzzles and wrote poems to make a little extra money. She loved being a mother and played games with her children and their friends, making afternoon "tea" and teaching them how to play cricket. She loved to play Scrabble and was fond of saying that she was a "wordsmith."

Joy was a woman of Faith. She was raised Catholic, and in her later years attended other Christian churches as well which nourished her faith in Jesus. "Miss Joy" was well-known for her British accent, her dignity and her grace.

Joy is survived by her daughters, Lorretta Olmstead (Blake), Paula Fristoe and Christina Christensen (Doug); her grandchildren, Sarah, Chelsea, Emily Joy, Jonathan, Matthew, Lara, Alison, Drew and Blake; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Sawtelle; her brother, Raymond Sawtelle; her husband, Paul; her son, Joseph King; and her son-in-law, Steven Fristoe.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at The Cottages and Treasure Valley Hospice for their loving care of Joy in the last few months. She will be greatly missed by so many.

TO KNOW HIM

By Joy Radzik

What did I hear today?

Did I hear moving wings

from my own angel guide,

Who at the Lord's command

stands at my side?

Did I hear heavenly music

so pure and sweet

That I was made to tremble

head to feet?

Did I hear heavenly hosts,

their praise impart?

No, I only heard His voice within my heart.

What did I feel today?

Did I feel deep within a love so sweet,

that I was made to tremble head to feet?

Did I feel overwhelming ecstasy Divine?

No, this only did I feel -- His hand in mine.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joy's name can be made to the Arts Department, C/O Brenda Raub, Mountain Home High School, 300 South 11th East St., Mountain Home, ID 83647.