Joyce Walker

Johanna Wilhelmina Kuinera Ombach Walker

August 27, 1934 to November 24, 2019

Our beloved Mother, Omi, Grandma, Great-Grandma passed away surrounded by her children on November 24, 2019. Joyce was born in Amsterdam Holland - the Netherlands on August 27, 1934, to Jacobus Johannes Ombach and Adriana Maria van der Horn.

She attended schools in Amsterdam where she received her Doctorate degree in Education. Joyce survived the Nazi occupation of Holland during World War II where she and her family worked in the Dutch underground to save many Jewish families from the Nazi regime. Their family ended up hiding one Jewish family for the remainder of the war due to dangerous conditions with Nazi occupation being at the highest level in Holland. They shared their limited resources with the Moscoviter family so they could all survive the war. After the Americans liberated the Dutch people Joyce was able to live her teenage years and finish her schooling. Her father died shortly after the war ended.

Joyce was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was in her early twenties, where she met many great friends and missionaries that are still friends with her today. After her graduation from college, she went on to be a school teacher in Amsterdam. One Sunday while attending church, she met a handsome young American Soldier named Lowell Walker. She knew instantly that he would be her husband one day. Lowell was able to ask Joyce’s mother for permission to marry her, and shortly after that Joyce’s mother passed away.

Joyce immigrated to America and married the love of her life. Joyce and Lowell were married on October 3, 1958, in the Salt Lake Temple. They had 5 children who were the joy of her life and sometimes the bane of her existence depending on the day. She must have still loved children because she went on to be a successful small business owner. She was the owner of Joymar Preschool which she ran for 30 years and taught thousands of children. Her students would always remember Mrs. Joyce as she ran into her previous students all over the world.

Lowell and Joyce were married for over 54 years when Lowell passed away. They were able to travel together to every state in the US. The last state they were able to visit was Alaska for their 50th Anniversary. They lived in Holladay, Bountiful, and St. George. After Lowell’s passing Joyce moved back to Salt Lake City to be closer to her children. 

Joyce was survived by her 5 Children and their Spouses, Lanette (Troy) Richardson, Janene (Todd) Gorzitze, Lowell (Merlee) Walker, Larry (Michelle) Walker, Julie (Kent) Goodrich. Her 34 grandchildren and her 18 great-grandchildren. 

The family would like to express their gratitude to the entire staff at the Crescent Senior Living Center in Sandy Utah for all their love and attention, and all the Dr’s and Nurses who helped her through this last year. 

The family would also like to apologize to those same caretakers, Dr’s and Nurses who learned to swear in Dutch. Welcome to the family, you were loved. 

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 2, 2019 at 11:00am at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, where friends and family are invited to visit Sunday evening 5:00-7:00pm and Monday morning 9:30-10:30am prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Mountain View Memorial Cemetery, 3115 East 7800 South, at 1:00pm.

We will miss our little Dutch girl, Mom, Omi, and Great-Grandmother. Till we meet again - Loves ❤️.....

We zullen onze kleine Nederlandse meid, Moder, Omi en Grote Omi missen. Tot we elkaar weer ontmoeten - Loves ❤️.....

Funeral Service Audio