Joyce Caulkins

Joyce Caulkins (Joycie), 90, was peacefully called home on February 3, 2026. She was born on October 10, 1935, in Pittsford, Michigan, to the late Claude and Elfrieda Julian and was one of five children-older brothers Robert and Norman (Dutch), her identical twin sister Janece, and younger sister Shirley.

After graduating from Pittsford High School, Joyce earned her bachelor's degree in education from Western Michigan University. She later completed graduate-level coursework equivalent to a master's degree through multiple universities, including Michigan State University. Because of her husband's advancing career, she relocated frequently, yet her commitment to education never wavered.

She met her future husband, Bruce Caulkins (Brucie), at Western Michigan University in 1957. After their second date, they both knew they were destined to spend their lives together. They were married in December 1958 and shared 67 wonderful years of marriage.

For 40 years, Joyce served as a dedicated elementary school teacher, spending the final 22 years in the St. Johns School District (St. Johns, MI), where she taught third and fifth grade. Her ability to shape young minds and make learning both special and meaningful left a lasting impact. Several former students followed in her footsteps-many citing the joy she brought to their school experience as inspiration for becoming educators themselves.

Although she retired in 2000, she never stopped being a teacher. She spent hundreds of hours volunteering in her grandsons' classrooms, both while they were students and for years after they had moved on, forming lifelong friendships with fellow teachers. The joy she derived from helping others was infectious in every classroom she entered-filling each learning environment with curiosity, energy, and love.

Her greatest joy in life was being a mother to Robert and Jennifer and a grandmother to Noah, Nick, and Gabe. The sun rose and set on her family, and she spent most of her post-retirement years with those she loved most. While Bruce generally remained in St. Johns to work, Joyce joyfully spent two weeks each month in Grand Rapids with her grandsons.

When she was home in St. Johns, she loved attending book club, taking neighborhood walks, and spending time with her cherished posse, "The Princesses." When she was in Grand Rapids, she volunteered in classrooms, conducted science experiments with her grandsons and their friends, and lovingly supported her daughter and son-in-law in raising their busy family.

Joyce leaves behind a legacy of lifelong teaching and learning, kindness, acceptance, eternal positivity, and the pursuit of joy in simple things. Her family and closest friends will remember her unconditional love-and how deeply you could feel it simply by being in her presence.

She is survived by her husband, Bruce; her two children, Robert (Cheryl Becker) Caulkins of Brighton, MI, and Jennifer (Jim) Messner of Grand Rapids, MI; and her three grandsons, Noah, Nick, and Gabe, who were the light of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Robert, Norman (Dutch), Janece, and Shirley.

Her family would especially like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Corewell Hospice-especially her nurse, Tim-and the entire team at Grandbrook Memory Care for their compassion and care.

At Joycie's request, cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held from 1–3 p.m., prior to her celebration of life at 3 p.m., on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at McGeehan Funeral Homes, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Pkwy, St. Johns, MI 48879.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Johns Schools Foundation for Excellence, an organization that supports educational opportunities for students, that go beyond ordinary instruction in the community she so dearly loved (https://www.sjsffe.org/home). In honoring Joyce's memory, may we continue her legacy of lifelong learning, kindness, and finding joy in the simple moments.

For further information, phone McGeehan Funeral Home at 989-224-4422