Joyce Gow (1924 - 2014) 

 

Joyce Gow was born June 14, 1924, to Fritz and Alta Bergstrom.

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After graduating from Two Harbors High School in 1942, she attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. In 1947, Joyce married Jeffred W. Leighton, Jr., and started a family of three boys, Jeffred W., John Mikhal, and Daniel Edward. 

 

In 1952, Joyce traveled by ship to Japan with her three sons, where they lived in off-base military housing until 1954, then returning to Two Harbors.

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In 1961, she married H. James Gow, father of Charlotte Ann and Thomas James Gow. In 1964, Tim Michael was born, and their family grew to six children.

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In 1968, her great love of art and her determination inspired her to take painting classes, where she thrived.

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Soon Joyce became an instructor, and her career as an artist and teacher began. As her artwork became more accomplished, she began to join organizations including Midwest Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society, Lake Superior Watercolor Society, Duluth Art Institute, Ft. Myers Beach Art Association, Artists of Minnesota, and the Voyager Art Club.

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Joyce also taught many workshops locally and as widespread as Florida, South Dakota, and Idaho. She was well known to her students as a nurturing mentor with a good sense of humor, and many of them became close friends. 

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She passed away in Duluth, Minnesota, in 2014.

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