Joan Ruth Hoitink

Joan Ruth Hoitink, 91, of Cedar Grove died on Tuesday, June 17,  at The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, Wis., where she resided the past eight months.

Joan was born on Feb. 28, 1934, in Cedar Grove, the daughter of the late Lester and Jeanette DuMez.  

She graduated from Cedar Grove High School in 1952 and then attended Sheboygan Business College.  

On Feb. 18, 1956, she married Garret J. Hoitink in Cedar Grove.  

She initially worked as a medical secretary for a surgeon group in Sheboygan, then was a stay-at-home mom while she raised  her four children. She is also fondly remembered by many for her years as a secretary at Cedar Grove-Belgium High School.

Joan was a lifelong member of Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Cedar Grove, where she sang in the choir and participated in many women’s activities. She loved music, especially four-part harmony, and sang with the Sweet Adelines group for a number of years.    

She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing and studying her Bible. Her greatest joy,  however, came from spending time with  her family and supporting each one through their lives. She also enjoyed getting together with club friends and classmates.  

Joan will be greatly missed and will be remembered for her simple life, quiet integrity and sincere kindness to all.

Joan is survived by her four children, Terry (Kay) Hoitink of Rogers, Minn., Laurie (Mike) Wensink of Eau Claire, Wis., Sandy (Dan) Zelm of Sheboygan, Wis., and Randy Hoitink of Hudson, Wis.; seven grandchildren, Aaron (Megan) Hoitink, Andrew (Megan) Hoitink, Christopher (Kara) Wensink, Chad (Helienna) Wensink, Paula (Tom) Molosky, Jenna Zelm and Holly Hoitink; and multiple great-grandchildren.  

She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Neva Walvort of Sheboygan Falls and Shirley Hoitink of Cedar Grove.

She was preceded in death by her husband Garret in 2013, her parents, her brother Carl DuMez and four brothers-in-law, William Van Wyk, Walton Walvort, Willard Veldman and John Hoitink. She was also preceded in death by three sisters-in-law, Ethel DuMez,  LaVern Veldman and Evelyn VanWyk. 

A funeral to celebrate Joan’s life will be held at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Cedar Grove on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Family and friends may greet the family at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The funeral service will start at 11:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.

Burial will take place in a private family service at Hingham Cemetery in the Town of Lima at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Joan’s memory for Calvary OPC and Campus Life in Sheboygan.