Joan   Hoekstra

Joan Hoekstra of Grand Rapids and West Olive passed away peacefully on August 26.  She was born to Nicholas and Hanna (Vanderveen) Rodenhouse on October 2, 1918.  She was the beloved wife of the now deceased Richard Hoekstra for 61 years, a caring and nurturing mother, an extraordinary “Nana” to her grandchildren and someone who thought of and reached out to others in need, both near and far.  She was raised on Grand Rapids west side, where she attended Oakleigh and Union High Schools.  Following graduation from high school, she attended the Davenport School of Business and Calvin College, worked in several downtown offices and at Herpolsheimers, as a model and an assistant buyer.  Eventually she was asked to be Grand Rapids first “bridal secretary.”  During this time she also met and married Rich.  Their marriage was interrupted by WWII, when Rich was drafted into the army and deployed for combat duty in Europe. After almost three years of separation, they were reunited and resumed their life together.  They were charter members of Highland Hills CRC, (now Westend), where she was active in various children’s and couples activities.  During this time, she also had her first encounter with depression and was hospitalized at Pine Rest Christian Hospital.  This affliction reappeared from time to time throughout her life, but through the abiding comfort and wisdom of Bible verses, which she scattered throughout the house, and her will to be well, she always battled back.  This was especially true following the sudden and tragic death of her daughter in 1988.  She was also involved in community activities including, most notably, a Department of Social Services outreach program for welfare mothers at Gold Avenue Chapel for which she received an award, recognizing years of dedicated volunteer work, and later initiating a volunteer activities program at the then newly opened Raybrook campus of the Holland Home, where her parents were residents; an endeavor that resulted in her being appointed to its board of trustees.  In addition to Rich and her daughter, Christine Lamberts, she was preceded in death by her brother, Louis Rodenhouse, and brother-in-law, Tom Grant.  Surviving are her sisters, Mirian Grant and Catherine Rodenhouse and sister-in-law, Phyllis Rodenhouse; sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Joanne and Joel  and Greta; her grandchildren, Elizabeth, Natasha, Krista, Emily, Bryan, Anna and Karin, and nine great-grandchildren.  Also, surviving are very special people in her life, Tuan Tran and his family Dung, Phi and Justin, Zita Vigh and Gabiella Poor VanHuis.  A memorial service will be held on Friday August 29 at 11:30 a.m. at Raybrook Chapel, 2121 Raybrook SE.  Friends may meet the family from 10:00 am until the time of the service.  Contributions may be made to the Holland Home or the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.