Joyce Marie Dietz, age 82, died peacefully in her sleep Friday morning, May 13th at Home Sweet Home Too, an assisted living facility in Haslett. 

Please join us at 4:00 PM as we celebrate her life – and her first Heavenly birthday - on Saturday, June 4th in the St. Johns City Park at the Zeeb pavilion (closest to Smith Hall). Silly string optional

She was born in Pontiac, Michigan on June 4th, 1939 to George Estep and Shirley Van Norman, delivered by her grandmother, Helen Van Norman on the dining room table. The eldest of five siblings, Joyce enjoyed sharing crazy stories from her childhood with a mother who was married seven times. Following graduation from Edmore High School in 1957, she began studying education at Alma College. While working as a summer counselor for special needs children she met Ron Dietz, and the two were married on October 22nd, 1960. They had three children: David, Michael, and Pollyanna – and Joyce devoted her life to her kids. In 1970 the Dietz family moved to St. Johns, Michigan. In 1971 Father Hugh Banninga baptized all three children at the St. Johns Episcopal church. Joyce was highly engaged in the church – teaching Sunday school and creating crafts for the annual bazaar.

Her apple pie deserves its own paragraph. Un-touch-able.

An accomplished seamstress, Joyce went beyond mere wardrobe repair and created quilts, doilies, afghans, and a severely misshapen doll named Ralph. Her love of gardening and people kept her friends and neighbors in flowers, as Joyce maintained a beautiful rose garden – from which she cut and delivered roses throughout the neighborhood. A St. Johns resident for 50 years, she worked at JC Penney, the Wheel Inn, Goff (the Food Store & More), Sunshine Center laundromat, and ran licensed day care in her home for a multitude of toddlers. In 1984 she became a grandmother – and what a grandmother she was! By 1998 she had six grandchildren.

Ever resilient, after her divorce in 1985, she returned to school and earned her teaching degree from Michigan State University. Born to teach, Joyce accepted a position teaching alternative junior high school at Theresa Merrill School in Saint Johns, Michigan, where she tackled the challenges of students who had diverged from traditional education. As an educator Joyce was unparalleled. Highly capable in so many subjects, her knowledge of Native Americans and the Civil War was nothing short of astonishing. Her ability to teach was exceeded by her ability to make people smile – a superpower she exercised without hesitation.

She loved her family, playing cards, the Detroit Tigers, John Wayne, Tom Selleck, polar bears, and butterflies. Uncle John’s cider mill was one of her favorite places, and she took her students there regularly. Selfless and modest, Joyce brought joy to everyone around her with her contagious enthusiasm and zest for life. It would be remiss not to mention her two dearest friends, Jackie Plowman and Rachel Powelson – who are considered family.

She is survived by her children, David Dietz, Mike (Kim) Dietz, and Polly Cove; six grandchildren, Kirk (Brittany), Alec, Mitch, Nickolas, Zane, and Erika; one greatgrandchild, Cyrus – with another greatgrandchild, Eviana, on the way - as well as her sister Helen Coates and brother Robert Otto. Joyce was preceded in death by her brother, Jay Otto.

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