Joanna "Ann" Goryl

Joanna Fredricka Goryl was a beautiful, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She worked hard to provide for her family, and she found the reward for all her effort in the warmth of their company. Following the sinking of the Lusitania, President Woodrow Wilson led his country into the First World War. In this time of uncertainty, Sopheuis Ouwerkerk and his wife Agnes VanderMeulen looked toward a different future, the future of their family. They were expecting a child, and on January 21, 1917 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their daughter Joanna. The third of six children, Joanna grew up in Muskegon, Michigan with the company of her sisters, Dorothy and Maxine, and her brothers, Arthur, Sopheuis, and Frederick. Joanna enjoyed a traditional childhood. Her parents were proud of their Dutch heritage and raised the children according to the customs of their homeland. Her father owned and operated a grocery store on Terrace Street, Sophs Market, and her mother stayed at home to raise the kids. Joannas younger brother Frederick was disabled and required a lot of a care. During her childhood and also later in life, Joanna looked after him. Joanna attended Moon Elementary School, Central Junior High, and Muskegon High School. After that she began working full-time at the family store. When she wasnt busy with her job and her chores, she enjoyed taking the trolley to Lake Michigan. She soon met a handsome young man named William Goryl. They fell in love, and on October 22, 1940 they were married in the Berean Church Parlors. Joanna was twenty-three years old. The newlyweds settled into an apartment on Wood Street where they started their family with the birth of their son Bob in 1943. To accommodate their growing family, Joanna and Bill moved into the house on 2146 Miner in 1945. This house provided the setting for many wonderful family memories. For the Goryl family, this house was home for the next sixty-three years. Joanna and Bills family continued to grow with the blessing of four more children. Mary Jane was born in 1946, followed by Art in 1949, Jo Ann Joan in 1951, and Dave in 1953. Joanna was a devoted mother. She was a member at the Berean Church. For the Goryls, Sunday was always a special day. They often went on long car rides and after dinner they would all go to Mills for an ice cream dessert. Joanna was always the happiest in the company of her children. Many of her favorite memories include the early morning trips to Lake Michigan, the afternoons at John Ball Park Zoo, the Friday evenings shopping down Western Avenue in Muskegons Downtown and especially the Memorial Day picnics and parades in lakeside. Like many mothers, Joanna was a worrier. As a child of the Great Depression, she knew that money was an uncertain commodity. Although she knew how to stretch a nickel, financial struggles remained in her familys future. In 1960, Joanna was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She was admitted to the N. Muskegon Sanitarium, where she spent one year. Her daughter Mary, and Joannas sisters Dorothy and Maxine stepped up to help the family. On November 16, 1963, her husband Bill died from a sudden heart attack. Joanna was devastated. With five children and health problems of her own, she now had to provide for her family. This was beyond even the worst of her worries. Joanna relied on her faith, her family, and her own resilience to see her through this dark time. To make ends meet, she worked several different jobs. She was a switchboard operator at Mercy Hospital. She worked at Miladys, a clothing store, and Lakeside and Grossmans Department Stores. By the end of the 1960s Joanna had solved the worst of her financial problems. However, the worrying did not stop there. The Vietnam War was quickly escalating, and her son Art was drafted. He served as an Army Medic from 1969-1971. His safety was a constant concern for Joanna. Fortunately, her prayers were answered, and Art safely returned home from the war. Despite these hardships, Joanna found reason to celebrate. In 1967 she welcomed her first grandchild into the family. Anne Marie was followed by seven more grandchildren. Joanna was an active grandmother who cherished all the time that she spent with the youngest members of her family. In 1983 Joanna retired. Embracing her newfound freedom, she explored her interests and hobbies. Joanna enjoyed traveling, playing the piano, and chatting with friends. She took pride in her yard and worked hard to maintain its appearance. She now attended Forest Park Covenant Church until her illness made her unable too. Joanna found her greatest happiness in the company of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was a beautiful woman, slender and petite, with a bright face and beaming blue eyes. She was often referred to as Blue Bird because of her eyes. Among the many people who loved her, she will be greatly missed and frequently remembered. Joanna died on Sunday, August 17, 2008 following surgery for a broken hip. She is survived by her sons, Robert (Lorraine) Goryl of N. Muskegon, Arthur Goryl of Muskegon, David (Brenda) Goryl of Muskegon; daughters, Mary (Tim) Kraft of Muskegon, Joan (Richard) Young of Muskegon; 8 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; sister, Maxine (Bill) Nienow of FL; several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband William, 3 brothers & 1 sister. The Service for Joanna will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2008, 1:00 PM at Clock Chapel with Rev. Paul Bengtson officiating. Interment at Lakeside Cemetery. Visit with family members on Wednesday, 5-7 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home Muskegon. To learn more about Joanna, sign her guestbook or archive a favorite photo, visit www.lifestorynet.com.