Joyce Elaine (Blok) Van Belkum

Joyce Elaine Van Belkum passed away peacefully on January 14, 2026, two days after her Birthday, which was January 12th. She was 93. She was a Mother, Wife, Grandmother and Great Grandmother.

Joyce was born in Grandville, Michigan to Pearl and Evart Blok. She was the oldest of five daughters; Shirley, Patricia, Carole and Rene.

In 1951, Joyce married her childhood sweetheart, Kenneth Van Belkum. Ken joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Japan where their first child, Kim, was born. Their family grew with the birth of Karen in 1960 and Hans in 1962. Over two decades, Joyce made homes in Rhode Island, Illinois, Wisconsin, Guam, Maryland and then settled in Hawaii. While in Hawaii, Joyce attended college and got her master’s degree in special education, and a second master’s in counseling and guidance. Joyce worked for the Hawaii Department of Education for 25 years. Joyce retired at 65 years old.

Joyce and Ken's next chapter was to raise their grandsons, Max and Adam, after their daughter passed. Joyce and Ken moved their family to Destin, Florida, after her death, to be with her eldest daughter, Kim, and the family.

Joyce said she learned “The Most Important thing in Life is Family” and “put children in the best environment you can afford to help them thrive”. That’s what she did when they all moved to Destin, FL.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, Kenneth Dewey Van Belkum, and her daughter, Karen Provler. Joyce is survived by daughter, Kim and husband, Jim Dettle; son, Hans Van Belkum; grandsons/sons, Max and Adam Van Belkum; grandchildren, Kristin Humphrey and Sean Humphry, and Jameson Dettle; and two great granddaughters, Lucy and Audrey Humphrey.

A celebration of life will be held March 7th at Destiny Clubhouse from noon until 2:00 p.m.

Expressions of love and sympathy can be placed and viewed online at daviswatkins.com/listings