Joyce A Breithaupt

All who knew Joyce Breithaupt would agree that she was a shining example of what it means to be the hands and feet of the Lord she loved. She was selfless, compassionate, and filled with unconditional love for all who were near. A devoted and nurturing mother, Joyce lived to care for her husband and children, but she couldn’t have been happier than she was to welcome both grandchildren and great-grandchildren into the family. Although the way before her was not without times of great trial, she was a gracious and faith filled woman who considered whatever came her way to be part of God’s perfect plan for her life. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy that is deeply rooted in kindhearted love and generosity toward others will be carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

On May 15, 1919, a couple from a small town just outside of Traverse City, Michigan, was pleased to announce the birth of their healthy baby girl. Joyce A. was one of a total of nine children born to her parents, Walter and Fern (Ramsay) Langs, and she was raised in the family home alongside her siblings, Gerald, Nellie, Marguerite, Vy, R.D., Dora, Francis, and Dale. They were a close-knit family, and Joyce learned early on what real love looks like.

In many ways Joyce was a typical young girl of her generation. Although she wanted to be a professional boxer as a girl, this plan was short lived once she discovered that muscles might make her physically unattractive. However, Joyce uncovered a love for art as a young girl, and artistic creativity would remain an important element of her entire life journey. While growing up she did pencil drawings of various family members and drawings for the school yearbook as well. Joyce attended local schools and graduated from high school at the age of 16 in 1936.

In September of 1934, Joyce met the man of her dreams; his name was Darwin Breithaupt, and she was smitten with his handsome appearance right from the start. A dating relationship ensued, and the couple soon found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Joyce and Darwin were united in marriage on July 2, 1939. Together she and her husband were blessed to welcome 10 children into their hearts and home: Darleen, Darry, Jerilyn, Brenda, Cheryl, Patricia, Christian, Shelley, Bette, and Martin.

Life was a bustle of activity in the Breithaupt home. Her days were spent cooking, cleaning, and tending to the needs of her family. Joyce was truly amazing in the kitchen as she could make a meal out of “nothing”, and still found time to supplement the family larder with countless jars of seasonal fruits and vegetables. No one could quite figure out how she could cut a cake into 13 pieces either, yet it wasn’t a surprise that she had it mastered. Making bread was also a daily activity. At times she worked a part-time job to help make ends meet including as someone who fitted women for corsets. In 1959 she was employed as a finish detailer for The Burwood Products Company: a wall décor and clock manufacturing company, enjoying this demanding but creative task until the company closed some years later. Joyce’s extra income was very much appreciated when Darwin was laid off after the factory he worked for closed down. She was deeply saddened with the death of her beloved husband on March 13, 1964, but her quiet strength and unwavering courage sustained her and her family during this time.

Although caring for her family was always first and foremost in her life, Joyce also involved herself with the activities of her children, including Girl Scout Leader for Darleen, her oldest daughter for a time. She remained active at Trinity Lutheran Church as Sunday school teacher, reliable contributor of baked beans and Mocha Cake for untold potlucks, as well as freely contributing her artistic talents to float design and drawings for the annual city parade. Throughout the peaks and valleys of her life art was always her constant, and sharpening her talents a lifetime goal. After moving to this area, Joyce took classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College well into her late 70’s, graduating with an Associates Degree with an art emphasis. She excelled and received high grades in her art courses, but also rounded out her education with typing, shorthand, and a foreign language, too.

Joyce thoroughly enjoyed her role as grandmother as well as a great-grandmother later in life. Throughout her life Joyce was a gracious woman and guided by an unwavering faith. She signed things with JOY, which stood for Jesus-others-yourself, and it was easy to see that she lived by this belief. The life lessons Joyce taught her children were many and included things such as putting her family first, what it means to be truly selfless, and how to show unconditional love. She taught her children respect for Sunday, the Lord’s day, as it was a day that was set aside for church and family. Joyce faced whatever came her way with great courage and weathered the storms that came her way without complaint. Her children were blessed to call her their mom, and she provided them with an example they all strive to live up to. Joyce suffered a stroke when she was 86, but she had a great will to live for the Lord. She held fast to some of her favorite verses like Psalms 46:10, which states in part, “Be still and know that I am God,” as well as 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and 24, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

A woman who is described as brave, strong, and loving, Joyce Breithaupt was a true gift to all who were within her reach. She covered her family with her love, but more importantly she abundantly covered them with her prayers. Joyce lived life to the fullest and left nothing undone. She will never be forgotten.

Joyce Breithaupt, of Portage, died on Monday, August 18, 2014, at TenderCare of Portage. Joyce’s family includes her children: Jerilyn (Jim) Johnston, Brenda Bachmann, Cheryl Buyze, and Patricia (Sheila Fortuin) Breithaupt, Christian (Gwen) Breithaupt, Shelley (George) Broad, Bette (Ron) Hall, and Martin (Lisa) Breithaupt, daughter-in-law, Barbara Breithaupt; son-in-law, Robert Mabie; 21 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Darwin; 2 children: Darleen and Darry; 2 sons-in-law: David Bachmann and Terry Buyze; and 8 brothers and sisters. Learn more about Joyce and visit with her family and friends while sharing food and refreshments on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler – Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (375-2900). Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at First Assembly of God, 5550 Oakland Drive; Portage. Burial will be at 12 noon on Saturday at the Grand Traverse Memorial Garden Cemetery in Traverse City. Please visit Joyce’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to Kalamazoo Gospel Mission or the Kalamazoo First Assembly of God Church.