Joan Verburg

Johanna “Joan” Veronica (Buway) Verburg, 92, longtime resident of Grandville, mother of nine and former, long term Coopersville special education teacher passed away peacefully into the arms of her loving Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, August 3, 2024, in Byron Center, Michigan. 

Joan was born to Frank and Mary Buway (Buwaj) on April 4, 1932, in Grand Rapids. She grew up on a farm in Coopersville, Michigan, with her nine sisters and a brother. She was a petite, redheaded graduate of Coopersville High School. Because of the distance from the family farm to school, Joan lived in a room in downtown Coopersville, working to pay for her room and board to be able to go to high school. She married George Verburg on August 2, 1952. Joan and George moved from Wyoming to a newly built home on Osage Drive in Grandville in 1966 where they raised their nine children who all graduated from Grandville High School.

Joan was not only a wife, mother, and homemaker for a family of nine children, she also became a full-time student herself as she returned to school, primarily in the evenings, at Grand Rapids Junior College and then Grand Valley State. She earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in Education, specializing in special education, from Grand Valley State University in 1971. Upon graduation, Joan was hired as a Special Education teacher with the Coopersville School system where she taught from 1971 to 1994; she touched many lives there and was cherished for her caring, intuitive approach with her students. She continued her education completing her Master’s degree from Grand Valley State in 1979. Joan relished her summers between school years when she could  spend more time with family, read, travel, and try new adventures like white water rafting and spelunking. During her summers and after retiring, she traveled extensively; Joan toured Scotland, England, and Wales with a group of teachers; she backpacked in Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland); she toured Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria). She also traveled to Egypt, Israel, Canada, and throughout the U.S. always bringing back gifts for her family.

Joan was active socially and athletically. She played softball and basketball in high school; she was the lead in the Junior play and was also a cheerleader. She bowled, played golf, and played women’s and co-ed softball in adult leagues. Her favorite sport was softball. Joan enjoyed backpacking, canoeing, and square dancing. She was a passionate Detroit Tigers fan with annual trips to the stadium, watching games on television or listening to them on the radio. She was also a member of the Red Hats Society.

Joan moved to her condominium in 1983 on Porter Lake in Grandville where she lived for forty-one years. She loved watching birds and kept abreast of all the daily activities on the lake. Joan was a voracious reader, maintaining a register showing she had completed reading each book in a large number of series.  She loved visits from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Many people recall Joan from years ago when she managed the parking lot across from Fisher Body in Wyoming. She would collect parking fees from workers and from fans attending local high school football games on Friday nights.  Upon retirement, Joan volunteered her time for 15 years with the Wyoming Police Auxiliary, as an aide with St. Mary’s Hospital, and also with a hospice service.

In her memoirs, Joan said her most lasting memories are those of family times; years when she was young growing up on the farm with her brother and sisters, with her own children and the closeness they shared, the many years attending YMCA family camp on Barlow Lake, the weekly summer Sundays at Holland beach, all the busy days with school and sports activities, and birthdays, holiday celebrations and other happy times.

Joan was preceded in death by two of her daughters, Nancy and Melissa; a son, Casey; her parents, Frank and Mary (Chiha) Buway; her former husband, C. George; her sisters, Victoria (Joseph) Fitzgerald, Catherine, “Cassie” (Joseph) Askins, Sophie (Elmer) Emmons, Rose (Ellis) Rollenhagen, Anne (Jim) Abrams, Frances (Ervin) Simonds, Mary Jane (Harold) Gilbert, Bernice (Al) Mansfield; and a brother, Frank “Louie” (Marilyn) Buwaj. Joan is survived by her children and their spouses: David (Gay) Verburg, Hudsonville, Michigan; Wendy (Robert) Perez, Holland, Michigan; Lindy (John) Phillips, Clarkston, Michigan; Frank (Julee) Verburg, Dewitt, Michigan; Daniel Verburg, Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Joel (Tammy) Verburg, Byron Center, Michigan; and  one sister, Barbara Traxinger, Wyoming, Michigan;  22 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joan will be deeply missed by her family, friends, former students, and associates.

According to Joan’s wishes cremation has taken place and no services will be held. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.