Obituaries

Joyce Ann Atkinson, age 83, of Dafter, Michigan, entered the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on July 7, 2025, at her apartment in Sunset Manor in Jenison, Michigan. She was born February 3, 1942 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to James and Sue Vanderstar.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Atkinson; parents, James and Sue Vanderstar; as well as her brother, Mervin (Myrna) Vanderstar.

Joyce is survived by her sister, Margaret (Jim) Booth; her children, Susan (Steve) Oswald of Rittman, Ohio, Sheri (Nate) Schmidt of Hudsonville, Michigan, and Sandi Rodriguez of Kirtland, Ohio; her four grandchildren, Vicka Schmidt, Alex Schmidt, Chase Rodriguez, and Gavin Rodriguez; and one great-grandchild, Miles Schmidt.

The Atkinsons raised three daughters on their centennial farm near Dafter. Joyce helped create a number of family traditions. Birthdays were a red-letter date, as were holidays. Christmas and birthdays were intentional highlights for each person. The egg hunt for chocolates at Easter was another, even if it meant Joyce needed to recover the next day from chocolate excess! She did have a sweet tooth; the candy dish was never empty. Making homemade donuts helped
stave off cabin fever when school was canceled due to a blizzard.

Scrapbooking, painting and quilting were other crafting hobbies that Joyce enjoyed. She loved music and often stopped to spontaneously sing or play the upright piano. She also kept busy helping Stan, her husband, with farming, as well as gardening, harvesting wild berries and stocking the chickadee feeders in the winter.

Joyce was a member of Rudyard Bible Church where she volunteered as a teacher and in the nursery. She also was active for a number of years as a speaker and leader in Women Today. Many people will remember the encouragement cards she sent over the years, sometimes long after living in the U.P. Joyce will indeed be lovingly remembered by many friends, and especially her immediate family.

Joyce was most proud of her role of Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Aunt and special Grandmother to children at church. She loved to invite the children of family and friends to play in the school bus and would bring out her favorite tea set for a delightful party.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent to Rudyard Bible Church, 11124 West Main Street, Rudyard, MI 49780.

The family will receive family and friends at Rudyard Bible Church on Saturday, July 12, 2025, for Visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. The Memorial Service will then be at 11:30 AM, with a private graveside service immediately following.