Joanne Brink

Loving, compassionate, and kind, Joanne Geraldine Brink lived a life rich in faith, family, and friendship. A woman who embodied the principles of Christian faith every day, Joanne was an unwavering servant of God and a powerful role model. She lovingly cared for her family, experienced much fun and many joys, and cherished each moment she was given. A cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Joanne will long be remembered and forever missed.

Despite the obvious gloom of the growing conflict in Europe, 1939 held much to celebrate, including the end of the Great Depression, the premieres of the classic films Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, the nationwide television broadcast, and the World's Fair in New York. As the US actively armed up for war, families continued to center their lives on love and hope for a brighter future. Nowhere was that hope more evident than in the hearts and home of Gerard and Clara (Eversdyke) VanSuilichem as they welcomed their daughter, Joanne, to their family on June 11 at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Growing up on Hillcrest NW in Grand Rapids, Joanne adored her older brother, William. Though he was nine years older than Joanne, the pair were very close. Their parents, who were born in the Netherlands, worked hard to provide them with a loving and supportive home. Gerard worked as a truck driver for a bakery while their mother was a homemaker and worked at a bakery counter. The family attended Richmond Reformed Church in Grand Rapids and celebrated holidays with family and relatives, usually with a big meal. They also traveled to Detroit to visit family. While William served in the Korean War, Joan felt both very proud and very anxious, missing him deeply and hoping for his safe return.

Joanne started taking piano lessons at age four, could play by ear, and was musically educated, studying piano at the Berger School of Music in Grand Rapids. MI. From Kindergarten through ninth grade, she attended Oakleigh School, then completed her high school education at Union High School. She was the Homecoming Queen at her high school, the Fop Hop Queen of the Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids, and played piano in the "Little Oakleigh School Band." As a result of getting tuberculosis and being in Sunshine Hospital for nine months as a teen, she missed a year of high school before graduation in 1957.

While cruising the strip in Grand Haven, Michigan, with friends, Joanne was introduced to Robert "Bob" Earl Brink by a mutual friend. After dating for about a year, they married on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1958, at Joanne's home church. The newlyweds celebrated their honeymoon in Niagara Falls, where Joanne caught the flu.

Joanne and Bob rented a small upstairs apartment from Eugene and Josephine Kozak, who owned the house and lived in the lower level on Kinney Avenue, NW. In March of 1959, Bob and Joanne welcomed their first child, Brenda, into their hearts and home, and Josephine was very helpful in teaching the young couple about parenting. After their second child, Barb, was born in 1960, Bob and Joanne purchased their forever home down the street at Kinney Ave. There, they welcomed their son, Bill, and daughters, Mary Ann and Carol.

Joanne devoted herself to raising the children and tending the home, while Bob provided for the family by working as a bricklayer for Tom Baker Masonry. A wonderful parent, Joanne was somewhat strict and disciplined. She always made hot meals and homemade desserts for supper. She made several traditional Dutch dishes, including Dutch pea soup, Dutch vegetable soup, and Porchops with hutspot, boiled mashed potatoes, onions, and carrots. Her wonderful cookies were often served for dessert.

Leading with her faith, she would visit each of her five children's beds every night to say bedtime prayers and kiss them goodnight. If the kids kept talking for hours after going to bed, she would shake the spatula drawer in the kitchen, and the kids would stop talking immediately. The family enjoyed camping in their custom-made pop-up camper at Cranhill Ranch. They also camped at Wilderness State Park and the Upper Peninsula. They also explored Mackinac Island and went to the beach once a week in the summer months.

An energetic soul who never hesitated to share her talents, Joanne was very active in her church and was a Right to Life volunteer. She taught piano and organ to hundreds of children and served as organist at her church for 57 years, playing for many services and weddings. She enjoyed listening to Christian Music, especially songs by Dino Kartsonakis and Bill and Gloria Gaither. Joanne also loved flowers, gardening, and floral design. Shopping in malls or in quaint little resort towns, and baking, were also favorite pastimes.

In retirement, Joanne and Bob enjoyed many trips to places like Washington State, Vancouver, British Columbia, Yosemite, San Francisco, Florida, and Yellowstone. Exploring Hawaii with dear friends was their most memorable trip.

Closer to home, Joanne enjoyed her sweet treats, especially ice cream. She eagerly awaited the opening of Dairy Queen each spring and liked to get Papa John's take-and-bake pizza. She treasured her Bible, photo albums, and her piano. In quiet times, she liked to watch Hallmark Movies, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her heart's delight.

As we celebrate Joanne's beautiful life, may we find much comfort in our many treasured memories. May we also find comfort in the honor of carrying Joanne's legacy of faith, hope, and love forward. In each moment we lead with our hearts, make music, generously share our blessings with others, cook our favorite traditional meals, enjoy baking a sweet treat to share, reminisce with our photo albums, relish time with family and friends, tend to our flowers, and say "Yes!" to an adventure with our beloved, we keep Joanne's memory alive and inspiring others as she inspired each of us.

Joanne Geraldine Brink passed away peacefully in the company of her family on Friday, April 10, 2026. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the summer of 1939, the daughter of the late Gerard and Clara VanSuilichem.

Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Robert "Bob" Brink; her great-grandson, Ethan Bakhuyzen; and her brother, William VanSuilichem.

Joanne is survived by her children, Brenda and Lance Orcutt, Barbara Daugherty, Bill Brink, Mary Ann and Mark Mulder, and Carol and Kevin Cooper; grandchildren Robert Dise, Benjamin Dise, Jessica and Joshua Bakhuyzen, Rachael and Jason Schutter, Kelsey and Zachary Osenga, Andrew and Jessica Mulder, Ryan Mulder, Mitchell and Dayan Glass, Levi Glass and great grandchildren Parker, Ella, Avery, Brady, Jayde, Opal, Silas, Peter, Crystal and Maci.

Joanne was a long-time and active member of Richmond Reformed Church in Grand Rapids.

Funeral services, officiated by Pastor John Delger, will be held Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 12 noon at Richmond Reformed Church (1814 Walker Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504). Visitation will take place at 10:30 AM prior to the service.

Joanne will be laid to rest next to Bob in Rosedale Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Right to Life Grand Rapids (2340 Porter St SW, Wyoming, MI 49519).

To sign Joanne's personal memorial page, leave a picture or a memory please visit www.heritagelifestory.com.