Joan Buckley's Obituary
Joan Maxine Buckley (nee Dykstra) died peacefully on February 3, 2017 after a short illness. A lifelong resident of Muskegon, Joan was a graduate of Muskegon High School. She married Gilbert P. Buckley in 1953 and they enjoyed 51 years together. Joan and Gilbert were avid supporters of the Muskegon community and especially the Downtown Heritage Village neighborhood. Together they spent 20 years painstakingly restoring an 1873 vintage home in the Heritage district and worked diligently for over 30 years supporting the development of an attractive residential neighborhood. They also volunteered countless hours in support of the Seaway Festival, the Lumbertown Music Festival, the restoration of the Hamilton Home, and the Muskegon Heritage Association. Joan was very appreciative of her friends and neighbors in the Heritage Village area and her new friends at Park Terrace. She loved to garden and walk in the fields and woods at the farm, and on the beach at Pere Marquette Park. Joan was an eager and cherished participant in the annual Dykstra Girls Weekend, a summer getaway in rustic surroundings with sisters, nieces and grandchildren. The stories are legend. Joan loved her family deeply and unconditionally. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. Joan is survived by her sons, Kim and Margaret Buckley of Holland, and Eric and Sue Buckley of Muskegon; sisters, Helen and Jerry DeLoy of Brooklyn, MI., Margaret Hall of Montague, Joyce Twiest of Spring Lake, Mary Connell of Cheyenne, WY; sisters-in-law Marlene Dykstra of Muskegon, Vera Snyder of Muskegon, Dawn Downey of Millsboro, DE, Doloris Buckley of Muskegon; brother-in-law, Corbette Buckley of Muskegon; grandchildren, Benjamin Buckley of Philadelphia, PA., Leah and Austin Vondracek of Holland; Jamee and BJ Slendebroek of Howard City; Lars Bulson of Muskegon and many wonderful great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. During her final days, Joan received a tremendous outpouring of support from family and friends. For this, the family will be eternally grateful. In addition, the family wishes to acknowledge the outstanding work of the staff on 3 North during her time at Hackley Hospital and the focused compassion of the team at the Harbor Hospice Poppen House. VISITATION will be from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, at Sytsema Funeral Home, Lee Chapel, 6291 Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI. A FUNERAL SERVICE will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8, also at Sytsema Funeral Home, Lee Chapel, with visitation an hour prior. Please consider Harbor Hospice Foundation for memorial contributions.
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