- Date Of Birth: January 16, 1929
- Date Of Death: January 9, 2011
- State: Michigan
VLIEK, Mrs. Joyce Of Portage. Joyce’s earthly life began in Decatur, Michigan on January 16, 1929; she departed it from Rose Arbor Hospice Residence on January 9, 2011 for her eternal home. The second of four children to be born to Byron and Pauline Price Stover, her early years were spent in Decatur, and after an absence of several years, returning there from St. Joseph late in her junior year of high school.
There she met her future husband, Ted. They became engaged on Christmas Eve of their senior year in high school and were married the following July, celebrating 62 years of marriage in 2010. As a child of the Depression, Joyce very early on placed minimal priority on material things, but rather chose to spend her younger years through an active social life with multiple friends doing simple things like roller skating and occasional dances. As she started her family with Ted, she spent virtually all of her time and energy on her biggest single passion; her family. She supported her husband and three children as Ted pursued continuing education and a career in public service. As the family grew, her priority never changed but simply shifted to include three daughters-in-law and her single biggest loves; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her greatest joy was always having the entire family gather at holidays or at their home on Eagle Lake in Paw Paw. Although Joyce’s career outside the home included work in several areas, her greatest success and the one that brought her the highest level of satisfaction, was that of teacher’s aide in special education with the Portage Schools, a career from which she retired in 1986.
During her many years in education she touched the lives of countless children and their parents in a very positive way. Joyce is survived by her husband, Ted; by three sons: Doug Judy, Ted Deb and Chuck Peggy, all of Portage, and by seven grandchildren: Amy Matt Tuley, Chad Lynn Vliek, Jessica Vliek, Tara Dan Chumita and TJ Vliek, all of Portage, and Bill Emily Vliek of Okemos and Mary Brian Smith of Williamston. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren: Grace, Lexi and Eli Tuley; Tyler, Madison, Jena and Will Vliek; Dalton and Avalon Chumita. One sister, Patricia Cottrell of Hermitage, TN, and two brothers, Bill Joyce of Paw Paw and Bob Gladys of Decatur also survive, as do many nieces and nephews.
