Joyce McMahon Hank

Joyce McMahon Hank, who described her life as a “blessed adventure,” died with grace on Oct. 3, 2022 at the age of 92, in her home at The Glenn in Minnetonka, MN.

Born in Chicago, IL on Aug. 6, 1930, Joyce was the cherished only child of George F. and Edna Ternus McMahon. Beloved childhood memories included reading Winnie the Pooh with her father and sharing his love of the violin, while developing a passion for horses, nature, and the arts with her mother. She credited both with instilling in her a love for education, a quest for truth, and living an unwavering, faith-filled life.

When Joyce first set foot as a freshman on the campus of St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, she was thrilled to see the words of John 8:31-32 carved in stone on the west portico of Le Mans Hall, “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”  This daughter of an educator and engineer had always been taught how to think, not what to think, and if these words were so important that a college would etch them in stone, she knew she was in a place that would fill her heart, mind, and soul with an education to last a lifetime which would guide her into eternity.

Joyce graduated with honors from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. She married Bernard. J. (Jerry) Hank, Jr. (University of Notre Dame, Class of 1951), in Chicago in 1953. She remained heavily involved in, and supportive of, St. Mary’s College, where she served on The Board of Trustees, was elected Trustee Emeriti, was National Chair of the Madeleva Society, established the Edna & George McMahon Aquinas Chair in Philosophy, and was bestowed an Honorary Degree in 1995. At the University of Notre Dame, Joyce served on the Snite Museum of Art Council and also established the McMahon/Hank Chair in Philosophy.

A talented artist, with an eye for beauty who loved to create in “the perfect light” of her art room in Santa Fe, Joyce captured each grandchild “doing” something, and immortalized those moments in paintings she gifted them. Numerous family pets, portraits, and landscapes of special locations also adorned her canvases; paintings that were gifts from the heart and cherished by all fortunate recipients.

Joyce & Jerry raised their family in Moline, IL from 1958 until Jerry passed away in 2013. Joyce emphasized the importance of family and community and modeled those values as a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Parish, and volunteer in numerous civic activities including Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts with her children.

She is survived by her four daughters, Ms. Kathryn Hank of Leland, Michigan, Mrs. Carol Hank (Dr. William) Hoffmann of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Dr. Ann Marie Hank (Dr. Dan) Monahan of Woodland, Minnesota, and Mrs. Margaret Hank (Dr. Edward) Requet of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Adam (Amy) Collett, Mary Katherine Collett, Thomas (Anna) Hoffmann, Michael (Alexandra) Hoffmann, Emily Hoffmann, Elizabeth Monahan, Brian Monahan, Kevin Monahan, Matthew Requet, Eric Requet, Claire Requet, and 3 great-grandchildren. Her only son, James B. Hank, of Moline, Illinois, died in 1994 at the age of 35, of Lou Gehrig's Disease. Joyce will be buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery on the campus of Notre Dame, beside her beloved husband, Jerry, and son, Jim.

If life for Joyce was an adventure, it was because she brought to it faith, strength, creativity, wisdom, and a yearning for the truth.

Come Holy Spirit!

Memorials may be made to Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

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