Alyce J. Meyers

Alyce Joy Meyers, 89, passed away on Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 at Copperleaf Assisted Memory Care, Schofield, WI.  She was born to the late John and Jennie (Booras) Vangalis on June 7th, 1933 at Memorial Hospital in Wausau, WI. She graduated from Wausau High School and married Ralph Meyers on August 30th, 1958 in Pine City, MN. 

As a child, Alyce worked at her parents' restaurant, Van’s Sandwich Shop, and candy store, Marathon Confectionery, both of which were located in downtown Wausau. She was one of eight Vangalis children, and grew up speaking both Greek and English. She was extremely proud of her Greek heritage, continuing many of the Vangalis traditions with her own children and, later, with her grandchildren as their “Yia Yia.” 

Alyce loved everything about her family’s restaurant and candy store, especially the malts, candy, and making new friends. She brought this same joy of talking and helping people to her work at Camelot music in the Wausau Mall, Lad and Lassie/Town & Country, and TJ Maxx. Alyce was truly a people person and would talk to anyone, inevitably making them laugh and finding out that they knew similar people or shared similar interests. When you met Alyce, you almost always made a new, life-long friend. She enjoyed walks at Marathon park, visiting the neighborhood where she grew up, and sharing memories about her childhood, which usually involved some sort of competitive sport (like hockey) in which she, the only “girl” athlete, would compete (and usually win) against the neighborhood boys. One of the saddest parts of growing older for Alyce was giving up her ice skates, tennis racket, and baseball glove. 

Alyce loved her family, children, and grandchildren, not only keeping tabs on what everyone was doing, but also offering her support and encouragement. No matter what, we knew that Alyce / Mom / Yia Yia was fiercely proud of us and that she would do whatever she could to support us. She will be greatly, greatly missed.

While Alyce always preferred playing sports over watching them, she was also a huge fan and enjoyed her basketball, hockey, and tennis. The Wisconsin Badgers were her favorite team to watch and she loved going to games with her sister, Katherine in Madison, WI. She also enjoyed watching sports on television, including boys Little League games, girls’ softball, basketball, cycling, and tennis. In her own words, one of the “highlights” of her life was attending a Brewers game in 2017 with her daughter Julie and son-in-law Kim. Alyce also loved taking her children on picnics across the street from her house at Pleasant View Park, visiting Marathon Park, playing games, and puzzles. She was also very artistic and enjoyed sketching and drawing pictures from a young age. True to her roots in the candy store, there also wasn’t a cookie or sweet that Alyce didn’t like. For 50 years, Alyce was also a devout Jehovah’s Witness with many loving brothers and sisters of the congregation. 

Alyce is survived by her son Gregory, daughter Julie (Kim) Hutchison, son Jed (Stephanie) Meyers and their three boys, Jayke (Maggie), Tony, and Shayne, daughter Jolene (Cary) Roseth and their two boys, Cole and Noah, and one surviving brother, Louis Vangalis.

Alyce was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, and daughter, Christina Bickford, and survived by Christina’s husband Brian and his two sons, Dustin (Nina) and Christopher (son-Brody), two granddaughters Stephanie (Chino Alvarez) Hutchison and Samantha (Tim) Wyngaard from former son-in-law, Steve Hutchison. Alyce also had five great-grandchildren: Alethea Hutchison, Cahtalina & Mino Alvarez, and Calvin and Hazel Wyngaard. 

Alyce was also preceded in death by her three brothers, twin brother Aaron (Addy) Vangalis, Andrew and Dennis Vangalis, sisters Bette Towle, Georgia Vangalis, and Katherine Damon. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Friday, June 9th, 2023 at the Brainard Funeral Home-Everest Chapel, 5712 Memorial Court Weston, Wisconsin with services at 3:00 P.M.  

Alyce’s family would like to extend a thank you to Copperleaf and the many wonderful caregivers at the facility, especially Carrie, Nicole, Jeanette, Cece, Caitlyn, Carol Ann and Robert. The family also extends a special thank you to Nancy and Tim, from Interim Hospice Care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the family, which in turn will be given to the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Mom had a special way of always saying goodbye on the phone. As her family it is now our turn to say, “Bye now…”!