Joy Alexander

Joy Marie (Postier) Alexander, age 70, died on September 28, 2023 after a long battle with dementia.

Joy was born on January 30, 1953 to Russell and Mary (Ryan) Postier. Joy married Jim Alexander on May 31, 1975 in Pine Island, MN. They moved from Rochester to Pine Island shortly after their wedding and lived there for 17 years but moved back to Rochester in 2004 because they both worked and went to school there.

Joy grew up in Douglas, Minnesota and attended a one room school until attending junior and senior high school in Rochester. She graduated from John Marshall High School in 1971 and went on to complete a secretarial course at Rochester Vocational School.

She started her career at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester as a desk clerk. Joy soon realized there were better jobs in the health care profession so she continued her education while working at St. Mary's. She completed a course at Rochester School of Practical Nursing to earn her LPN license. Eventually she went back to school to earn an Associate degree in nursing and became a Registered Nurse. Not being satisfied with that, she proceeded to earn a Bachelor degree from Winona State and ultimately a Master degree from the University of Minnesota allowing her to be accredited as an APRN in Adult Mental Health. After obtaining the APRN degree, Joy took a position at Zumbro Valley Mental Health where she finished her distinguished 35-year career in the health care field.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Alexander; her brothers, Steve Postier and David Postier (Debbie); sisters, Teresa Postier and Nancy Breen; nieces, Melissa Amundsen (Eric), Kim Sage, Jenna Helfritz (Russ) and Sara Collett; nephews, Daniel Collett, Mike Postier (Sherry) and Travis Postier.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father; brother-in-law, Maurice John "Moe" Alexander; sisters-in-law, Myrna Krupp and Mary Volker; nephews, Brad and Ryan Postier; uncle, Tom Ryan and Aunt, Pat Christensen.

A Visitation will be held 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a time of sharing at 6:00 PM on Friday, October 6, 2023 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN. A private interment will be at Douglas Cemetery.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes is honored to be serving the Alexander family. To leave a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com