Joy Lynn George

With broken hearts, we share the passing of Joy Lynn George, age 53, of Ellsworth WI, who passed away on July 17th 2025, after a seven year courageous battle with cancer.

Joy Lynn was born on October 27, 1971, in Park Falls WI, to Edwin and Eunice Pritzl. She grew up in and graduated from Butternut High School in 1989 and went on to graduate with her Associate of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement from Vermilion Community College in 1993. She then pursued further education and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1996.

Joy Lynn dedicated her life to helping others, especially youth. She was employed with Pierce County Department of Human Services since October 2002. In 2019, she became the Youth Services Supervisor overseeing youth justice and children’s long term support. Most recently, she also took on the supervision of the Drug Court unit. Prior to becoming a supervisor, she served as the juvenile court intake worker and team lead for youth services for 5 years, and was an ongoing juvenile justice social worker for 19 years. Prior to Pierce County, she worked at Dunn County for 2 years and Polk County for 5 years, doing ongoing juvenile supervision. Joy Lynn also served on the Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Association Board of Directors from 2008 until her passing. She was a true leader and held in high regard by her staff and colleagues.

She met the love of her life, Shayne George, on October 31, 1990, and they married on October 3, 1998. Joy Lynn is survived by and missed deeply by Shayne and the family they created together, including their daughter, Jenna (Kyle), and their son, Dalton. She will forever be loved and cherished by her granddaughter, Jolene, who brought a level of happiness to Joy Lynn like no other. Joy Lynn’s love for her family was unwavering, deep, steady, and fiercely protective.

She is survived by her sisters Annette Lyon (Ken), and Becky Pritzl-Donner (Don), and brothers Joe Pritzl (Lisa) and RJ Pritzl, as well as many nieces and nephews, (cool person).

Joy Lynn is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Eunice Pritzl, and mother-in-law Patti George.

Joy Lynn’s journey on this earth was marked by her quick wit and sarcasm that was accompanied by that little grin, her sense of humor, dedication, laughter, kindness, love, compassion, strength, and loyalty. She was a true warrior and had a profound impact on the lives of all those who had the pleasure of knowing her. Joy Lynn lived loud and proud. Her passing has left a void in the hearts of her family, friends, and many more whose lives were touched by her.

Joy Lynn enjoyed a variety of activities, especially spending time with her family, spoiling her granddaughter, watching her children play sports growing up, and traveling far and wide to support their passions. She also loved turkey hunting, fishing, and many other outdoor activities.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00am on Friday, August 1st, 2025, at the Mahn Funeral Home, Ellsworth 
Chapel, with visitation beginning at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family will be accepting monetary donations to create a social work scholarship in Joy Lynn’s honor.