Joyce Lee Haaf

Joyce Lee Haaf, (nee Milless), 87, of Dublin, Ohio, passed away on March 4th, 2026, amongst family at The Grand Senior Living Center after a short illness.

Born on November 16th, 1938, at home on the family farm in Groveport, Ohio to Howard “Bud” Milless and Louise Frank Milless, Joyce grew up in Groveport, Ohio and graduated from Groveport High School in 1956 where she was a majorette and played drums in the marching band (Go Cruisers). She went on to get married in 1957, moved to Columbus, Ohio, and started raising her family of five children.

Joyce had a fascinating career as a surgical technician, where she traveled to several different states and hospitals across the states from California to Florida and many places in between. The tales of her adventures in the operating rooms kept her family entertained for years.

Moving back to Ohio to care for her mother, Joyce took an early retirement from the healthcare field. After her mother’s death, she remained in the family cottage in Lancaster, Ohio for many years and eventually moved to a senior living community in Dublin, Ohio.

Joyce loved sharing her knowledge of healthcare with friends, family, and neighbors. She was a member of the residents' group in the retirement community and often advocated for the best treatment of everyone living there.

Planning surprises for her family and friends was one of Joyce’s favorite things to do. She was willing to join in and often lead the way to do something out of the ordinary. Joyce had a talent for drawing and gifted a love of reading to her children. Her love of the performing arts was well known, from opera to musicals to local theater and that appreciation was also passed on to her children.

She is survived by her twin sister, JoAnn Milless-Prater (James), her younger sister, Christine Milless-Locke (Michael), and her children; Robyn Haaf, Terri Haaf-Higgins, Mitch Haaf (Kimberly), Kellie Haaf-Armie (Chris), her grandchildren; Elizabeth, Jon, Justin, Shaelee, and Ian, her nieces Amy, Emily, Michelle, and Kimberly, her nephew Jay, and nine great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Dane Haaf.

A celebration of life will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you share a favorite memory of her or that you perform an act of kindness in her name.