Joseph Arthur Boyle

Joseph Arthur Boyle, son of Edward Boyle and Erma Shelly Boyle died peacefully at home in Tacoma surrounded by loved ones on January 16, 2023. The youngest of four, he had three siblings who passed before him, Edward, Margaret, and Virginia. Joe leaves behind his wife of almost 67 years, Marybeth Heflin Boyle, and six children – (Margaret “Meg” D’Agnolo [Brian], Joseph “Joe” Gregory Boyle [Betty], Theresaleen “T” Nau [Skip], Bridget Wieczorek [Eric], Kathleen “Kate” Boyle, and Mary Alice DeWitt [Bob]. He also leaves behind 19 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren spread across the United States in California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington.

Joe was born in Wadsworth, Ohio and grew up in Rittman, Ohio. He attended John Carroll University, then transferred to Western Michigan University upon the death of his father. While attending Western, he attended a Catholic singles dance where he met the love of his life ~ Marybeth Heflin. They married in 1956 and began their journey of love and faith. Joe earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and paper technology from Western Michigan in 1957. While in school he participated in the Reserved Officers Training Corp (ROTC) and upon graduation, served in the Army for two years in Anniston, Alabama.

After leaving service, Joe worked for a paper company in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. While doing this work, he came to the realization that he wanted to work with people, not machines. With others’ support, he returned for a master’s degree in social work at Saint Louis University. He worked in mental health facilities and public schools before starting his own private practice in marriage and family counseling.

Joe and Marybeth were committed to their faith walk and went wherever they felt led. They were active in the Christian Family Movement. Both he and Marybeth were committed to giving to every parish and Catholic community they joined. His activism and volunteerism included working with the Native American and Southeast Asian students in Tucson, Arizona; marriage weekends with the Benedictine Monastery at Holy Trinity in St. David, Arizona; Glenmary Missionaries in the Appalachian area of Kentucky; Agency on Aging and Century 21 Scholars in Bloomington, Indiana.

He and his wife, Marybeth, became Consociate members of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet in St. Paul, Minnesota where they were involved in numerous ministries supported by the Sisters. One that both Joe & Marybeth served on the board for was, Grandmother Circles. When they moved to Tacoma, in 2016, they joined members of the Jesuit Volunteers and supported The Food Connection at Saint Leo’s well into their eighties.

Joe was a storyteller. He always focused on the positive. He loved to sing, to celebrate life, and used any excuse to dance. He also loved Ireland and Notre Dame Football! He shared his bits of wisdom about people and relationships with everyone he encountered. He encouraged everyone to seek the healing light of God. He wanted everyone to know that he loved them.

We will hold two services as Celebrations of Life – one in Tacoma, Washington at St. Leo’s Parish at 12:15 p.m. on March 28, 2023 and one this summer in St. Paul, Minnesota at The Carondelet Center (with the St. Paul Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet) at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday,  June 24, 2023, 1890 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either Grandmother Circles OR Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet Ministries