Joyce Hoogstraten

Joyce Elayne (Marcusse) Hoogstraten, 93, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, died on October 21, 2023 of old age. She was born on November 11, 1929 to Abraham and Martha Marcus, grew up in Kalamazoo along with her brother Frederick, and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. She married Robert Hoogstraten in 1948 and they eventually settled in Richland, in a house that Robert built, to raise their five children. After Robert’s untimely death in 1988, Joyce spread her wings and went to live for a number of years near old friends in Naples, Florida, before returning to Kalamazoo to live out her life closer to her family. While her children were young, Joyce worked as a “lunch lady” at the Richland Elementary School. She later worked for several years at the Kmart on Gull Road. While in Florida she worked at various boutique gift shops. She enjoyed being around people. Joyce is survived by her children: Marilyn Hoogstraten of Grawn, Michigan, Marsha (Dave) Anderson of Brighton, Michigan, John (Eileen Keegan) Hoogstraten of Williamsburg, Massachusetts, Gerald Hoogstraten of Longmont, Colorado, and Charles Hoogstraten of East Lansing, Michigan. They gifted her with nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom brought her great joy in her later years. Joyce will be interred with her late husband, Robert, a World War II veteran, at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan. To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Joyce's online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 616-452-3006. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joyce Hoogstraten, please visit our flower store.