Josephine "Jo" M. Top

Josephine Top was a devoted mother and grandma who always kept her family in the center of her thoughts. She was known for her unshakeable optimism and her familiar smile. No one ever heard a word of complaint from Jo. She focused on the many blessings in her life, and each day she found reasons for thanksgiving. The year 1919 set the tone for the decade that would follow. With the end of the Great War, waves of celebration spread throughout the country. This was a time of baseball scandals, flapper style, and jazz music. The stock market soared, and national industry burgeoned. Amid all this good fortune, Martin and Katherine Hoekstra celebrated for a different, more personal reason. At thirty-six years of age, Katherine was pregnant with her first child. On January 27, 1919 she and Martin were blessed with the healthy birth of their daughter Josephine. The elder of two children, Jo grew up in Grand Rapids with the company of her brother Melvin, who was one year younger than her. Melvin and her father both referred to Jo by the nickname "Did." Jo was raised in the house on Diamond Street. While her mother stayed at home to raise the children, her father provided for the family through his job as a furniture maker. The Hoekstras endured difficult times during the Great Depression. They were very poor, but they maintained their positive spirits by focusing on the blessings in their lives. The family attended Immanuel Reformed Church where they were very active and dedicated members. Despite the hardships of the Depression, Jo exuded the positive, optimistic spirit that would follow her throughout her life. She did laundry and ironing for extra income, and she never complained. Jo attended Sigsbe Elementary School and Central High School, where she graduated with the class of 1937. She was a strong student and close friends with her classmate Betty Ford. At a young age she began taking piano lessons. She was very talented, and she continued to play piano throughout her life. This was her passion, and she loved to share her gift with her family, friends, and congregation. During her high school years Jo met the love of her life, a handsome young man named Alfred Top. They were classmates at Central, and they also attended the same church. Their friendship quickly grew into love, and after a year of dating they were married on October 5, 1938. Their wedding took place at Immanuel Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. After their marriage Alfred found a job in Saginaw, and he and Jo settled into their first apartment. In order to get the piano into their upstairs apartment, Alfred moved it through a bedroom window. They became active members of Saginaw Baptist Church: Alfred led the choir and Jo played the piano. This was one of the happiest times in Jo's life. She and Alfred were very social, attending many parties, dances, and church activities. They often retreated to Pickeral Lake where Jo's parents owned a cottage. During this time, Jo lost her first child. The house next door was on fire and Jo tried to help her neighbors. At eight and a half months pregnant, she slipped and fell. She talked about this loss for the rest of her life. Just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Alfred was transferred to Muskegon. Soon afterwards, in the year 1941, Alfred was drafted into the US Army. He was sent overseas, and he served at Normandy and Battle of the Bulge. While Alfred was away, Jo moved back to Grand Rapids to live with her parents. On January 14, 1944 she and Alfred were blessed with the healthy birth of their daughter Patricia Ann Top. Although Alfred would not meet his daughter until 1946, when the war had ended, he shared in Jo's enthusiasm. Jo and Alfred moved back to Muskegon after he received his discharge and returned from overseas. They settled into the house at 1729 Manz Street where Jo would continue to live for the next sixty years. To provide for his family, Alfred worked at Campbell Wyant and Cannon and he eventually retired from Continental Motors. Jo was always a homemaker, and her family was her first priority. In 1951 Jo and Alfred were devastated when they learned that they had lost another child. Jo relied on her faith and her natural optimism to overcome the sadness of this loss. She and Alfred were members of Unity Reformed Church. She remained a dedicated, available mother, and she was very involved with Pat's school activities. In 1964 Jo and Alfred ended their marriage with divorce. Jo began working at various nursing homes in Muskegon as a Laundry and Housekeeping Supervisor. Jo was also an active member in the Marsh Neighborhood Association where she gained numerous friends. Jo enjoyed the company of close friends Kate and Carol Cierlak and Rose and Joe Hagen. Jo was thrilled to see her family grow through marriage and the blessing of grandchildren. In 1971, her daughter Pat was married to Ray Wiseman. Three years later, in 1974, Jo welcomed her first grandchild, Becki, into the family. Tim was born in 1977. The following years with "Gram" were filled with sleepovers, baking cookies, gardening, and taking the grandkids for Friday night suppers at Mr. Fables and Schnitzelbank. She was excited when Becki and Bill became engaged and also enjoyed spending time with Tim's wife, Karmen. Jo was very proud of her family and treasured all the time she spent in their warm company. Also very dear to her were her very special nieces and nephews, Sue, Tom (deceased), Mary, Nora, Tim, Dick, Deb, and Dan and their families. She loved family reunions and was best known for her deviled eggs and banana bread. Among her family and many friends, Jo will be fondly remembered for her lifelong positive attitude. She was an out-going woman who tried each day to share her happiness with the many people she loved. Jo died on Saturday, May 13, 2006, following a brief illness. She is survived by 1 Daughter, Pat (Ray) Wiseman of N. Muskegon: 2 grandchildren, Becki & fiance Bill Kotecki, Tim (Karmen) Wiseman: 2 great-grandchildren, William and Brianna: several very special nieces and nephews, she was preceded in death by 1 brother, Melvin Hoekstra & her former husband Alfred. Service will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 11:00 at Unity United Methodist Church with Rev. Jim Meines officiating, Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. The Visitation will take place on Tuesday, 5-8pm at Clock Funeral Home. Please visit Jo's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may archive a favorite memory, sign the guestbook, or post a memorial contribution.