Obituaries

Joyce Kooymans

Obituary Date: Monday, May 5, 2025

Joyce Kooymans, 75, passed away peacefully at her home in Gainesville, GA, surrounded by her loving family. Born on August 17, 1949, in Tallahassee, Florida, she was the daughter of Jesse and Jackie Tumlin and the sister of Helen Seabolt and Scott Tumlin.

Joyce married Bill Kooymans on June 12, 1971, and they began their life together in Atlanta, GA. Their first year was challenging, as Bill underwent 10 weeks of basic training in the Army. During this time, Joyce worked tirelessly to support the family, driving four hours on her day off to visit Bill for his 15-minute break before returning home.

Joyce and Bill raised three children—Brenna, Jessica, and Eric. When Eric was three, Joyce launched a custom home-building business. Around this time, Colette arrived from the Netherlands to help care for the children and quickly became part of the family.

Over 25 years, Joyce built and decorated hundreds of custom homes, earning her numerous awards and opportunities to work on the most prestigious projects. She and Bill also operated a successful house rental business for over 20 years, all while Joyce cooked dinner nightly, raised her children, and attended their plethora of sports events and activities.

In 1986, Joyce and Bill purchased a lake house on Lake Lanier, where they hosted countless memorable weekends with family and friends. Joyce was an amazing entertainer, known for her elaborate dinners and her passion for bringing people together. She never did anything halfway.

Joyce and Bill’s 54-year marriage was a testament to their teamwork, navigating life’s ups and downs, including both of their challenging career transitions. Together, they raised four children, supported them through college, celebrated their marriages, and cherished their 11 grandchildren, who remain close and gather for holidays.

A devout Catholic, Joyce lived with faith, joy, and unwavering determination. She was a proud patriot, a passionate Atlanta Braves fan, and never missed an FSU football game.

People say you can see about a person's true character by the quality of their friends. Joyce and Bill have developed and maintained close friendships with dozens of people, including the "Big Chill" group and Mom's bridge buddies, for over 50 years. Each of them would easily say, "We are not just friends; we are family!"

After a 25-year battle with intestine challenges from the side effects of radiation due to uterine cancer. You have never met a stronger fighter than Joyce. She would host events with 30+ people, and nobody would know that anything was wrong, even though she was unable to eat for days. Joyce and Bill consulted every specialist they could find in the US to try to address her issues.

Over the last 4 months, Mom had five surgeries and did everything one could possibly do to keep fighting, taking any battle head-on with the most stoic determination. When asked why she kept fighting with such pain and discomfort, she said, “Because I just love life so much!”

Joyce’s life inspires us all. She prioritized quality time with family, pursued her passions wholeheartedly, and never accepted failure. Her legacy lives on in her family, friends, and the countless lives she touched.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Bill; children, Brenna, Jessica, Eric, and Colette; and 11 grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held:

Ceremony of Life and Visitation with Family

Monday 12th 5pm to 7pm ET

Join us as we memorialize mom’s life with prayers, and the sharing of stories. Please feel free to share a few special memories about mom.

Where: Memorial Park Riverside Chapel

989 Riverside Dr
Gainesville GA 30501

And streamed on Facebook if unable to attend

Funeral Church Service

1pm ET Tuesday May 13th

Where: Saint Michael’s Roman Catholic Church

1440 Pearce Circle NE
Gainesville, GA 30501