Joyce D. Hoeksema

Joyce Hoeksema was a caring and giving person. She lived her life with a positive outlook that supported her during life's greatest challenges. Fun-loving, yet strong willed, she was well loved by her family and there was never any doubt that she was in charge! Her story begins on May 19, 1937 in Three Rivers, Michigan while the nation was still recovering from tough economic times. Joyce Darlene was born to Raymond and Lettie (Canavan) Snook bringing great joy and hope into their lives. She was the 6th born into a family of 8 children. Joyce was a proud graduate of Vicksburg High School with the Class of 1955. After graduation, she set off into the world of work. She entered beauty school and worked for Upjohn for a short time. As a result, from her time at beauty school, she took great pride in her hair and made sure her daughters always looked properly coiffed for Sundays at church. Saturday nights consisted of foam rollers, dippity do, pink tape & lace caps to ensure the girls had the perfect Sunday 'Doo. Her life was forever changed when she met Jim Hoeksema! Hitting it off from the start, they were eager to spend the rest of their lives together. Jim & Joyce married on June 29, 1956.They set out together as partners in business and life. Adding daughters Kathy, Cindy, and Lori to complete their family. The girls grew up working side by side with Joyce & Jim in the family business. Joyce took great pride in her home and her children. She was a good cook and made sure the family shared a meal every night, no matter the strains of the busy greenhouse season. . As a family they were very active in their home church, the First Reformed Church of Portage. An avid seamstress and knitter, she also handmade the girls' school and church clothes during their growing years. Jim & Joyce worked many long hours together supporting their family business, Jim Hoeksema Greenhouses on Schuring Road in Portage. As hard as they worked, they always made time to travel as a family. They would load up the wood paneled station wagon every summer and travel across the country on adventures. Family vacations were the reward of hard family work and lifetime memories were made. By 1989, when Jim officially retired, they continued their love of many special interests. They enjoyed traveling across the country often to golf destinations. With her love of golf, Joyce had three hole-in-ones in her many years as a member of the Pine View Golf Club and Golf Hammock Country Club in Sebring, Florida. Joyce was a longtime fan of the Detroit Tigers. The family loved to attend games at Tiger Stadium watching the Yankees and also The Bird pitch. Joyce would've been a wonderful candidate for Tiger Manager in her later years. Joyce gave quietly and generously to many causes through the years out of the generosity of her heart. With all of her interests, her love for our country was strong. She met her one last goal by casting her absentee ballot in 2020 for President Donald J. Trump. Joyce D. Hoeksema, of Portage, Ml passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at the age of 83. She is survived by her three daughters: Kathy Hoeksema-Aivars, of Schoolcraft; Cindy (Andy) Medema, of Mattawan; Lori Hoeksema, of Schoolcraft; three grandchildren: Andrea Medema; Nathan (Jamie) Medema; and Bailey (Jeffrey) Witt; four great grandchildren: Andrew & Lily Medema, Peyton & Gage Witt. She is also survived by two sisters: Rayletta Boone and Jeanne Watson; one brother: John Snook; brother-in-laws: Don (Nancy) Hoeksema; Dale (Marilyn) Hoeksema, Harold Vlietstra; sister-in-law's: Sue Snook; Nancy Snook; Kathy Hoeksema, and Carol Hoeksema. Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, James Hoeksema in 1996; parents: Raymond and Lettie Snook; three brothers: Emanuel, James and Eugene Snook; one sister: Marveta Calhoun; one sister-in-law: Doris Vlietstra; brothers-in-laws: Gerald Hoeksema, Carl Hoeksema, Ed Hoeksema, Orville Boone and Paul Calhoun. A private graveside service will be held on Friday, December 11, 2020 at 11am at Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park on Westnedge. While at www.avinkcremation.com please take time to sign Joyce's guestbook by lighting a candle and/or sharing a memory with the family. A special thank you to Mike Adams from the Hoeksema girls for being Joyce's good neighbor.The family would like to thank the staff at Rose Arbor for the care of their mother. Those who wish may make a contribution to the Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. The Hoeksema family is being cared for by the Avink Funeral Home & Cremation Society, 5975 Lovers Lane, Portage, Ml 49002 (269) 344-5600.