Ruth Thiebout

Ruth VanHattem Joyce Thiebout of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed peacefully to eternal life on February 22, 2024, at the age of 105. At the time of her passing, she was living at her winter residence in Winter Haven, Florida. Ruth was a devout Christian and charter member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. While residing in Florida, she attended First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven with her daughter, Lyn. Ruth told people her secret to her longevity was her faith and family. Her family also attributed it to the fact that she never slowed down. Ruth was proud of the fact that she was still able to live alone, maintain two homes, do her own housework including annually washing her windows, screens, curtains, chandelier and everything in her cupboards before leaving for Florida each year. She also never ceased doing her own laundry, cooking and tending to her beautiful flower gardens.

Ruth was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Chris and Maude VanHattem on May 3, 1918. As the oldest of five children, she had many responsibilities helping her mother with her younger siblings and taking care of the home. She graduated from Union High School in 1936. Ruth played several musical instruments and she and one of her girlfriends decided they would try out to be the first girls accepted in the school’s marching band. They both made it, but when Ruth was told that she would have to wear trousers and hide all her hair under her hat, she declined the invitation to join the band. She met the love of her life, John F. Joyce in 1935 and the couple wed in 1940. They had three children and were married for 46 years until John’s passing in 1986. Ruth married her second husband, William (Bill) Thiebout in 1993. The couple were married 18 years until Bill’s passing in 2011.

Her husband, John, was drafted during WWII, when their first born, Mike, was an infant. While John was overseas, Ruth went to work in the upholstery business. When John returned from serving his country, they opened their first grocery store, Joyce IGA on Plainfield Ave. Several years later, they moved the business to Comstock Park, where it remained for 20 years. Ruth was home much of the time raising her family, but she also worked many hours with her husband in the grocery store. After selling the grocery business, they worked together at Minit Print, on Plainfield Avenue.

Ruth was an excellent seamstress and made many of her own clothes and dresses for her daughter, including her wedding dress. She made pastors’ robes and silk banners for church. She was also known for her wonderful baking. Many friends and neighbors looked forward to receiving her trays of homemade Christmas cookies and pastries. She made Dutch banket every year, a tradition that she carried on with her daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter through last Christmas. Her family has fond memories of listening to Ruth play hymns on the organ before she went to bed at night, something she did well past the age of 100.

Ruth’s family has been blessed with her love and devotion to each and every one of them. There was nothing she enjoyed more than being surrounded by her family. Ruth was a joy to visit, always eager to share her faith, current events, family news, and of course, politics with the adults. She never tired of being with the children and holding the newborn babies. She had a smile and warmth about her that drew the little ones to her.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Chris and Maude VanHattem; four siblings: twin brother Paul VanHattem, Robert “Bob” and Marge VanHattem, Ray VanHattem, and Jean VanHattem Reminga; first husband, John Joyce; second husband, William “Bill” Thiebout; and son-in-law, William “Bill” Swart.

She is survived by her three children: J. Michael and Susan Joyce, Madelyn “Lyn” Joyce Swart, David and Mary Joyce; five grandchildren: Shari and Richard Stembaugh; Jeffrey and Doreen Joyce, Ryan and Loretta Joyce, Christine and fiancé, Tim Fischer, and Kathryn “Katie” and Jeff Dietz; along with 14 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren; stepson, William “Billy” and Arlene Thiebout and their children and grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Thank you to her special nieces, Mary Kay Goodrich and Barb DenHartigh who were so helpful to Ruth in her later years.

A service to celebrate Ruth’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, at St Luke’s Lutheran Church, 3215 4 Mile Rd NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525. Light luncheon immediately following. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Ruth’s memory to First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (Grand Rapids, MI), Disabled American Veterans, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or the Wounded Warrior Project.