Hopkins native Joan Riksen, 85, died Thursday, March 13.
She was born in Hopkins July 26, 1939, to Richard and Alice (Rose) Thompson. She graduated from Hopkins High School in 1957 and married Bill Riksen on June 7, 1958.
Joan was a loving, caring, and devoted wife, mother, grandma, sister and friend. She enjoyed having her family around and always had their favorite snacks on hand. Joan enjoyed cooking, baking, and sewing. She catered many weddings, dinners, and other events.
She ran the restaurant at the Hopkins Livestock Yards for several years. All her food and baked goods were made from scratch. She enjoyed making quilts with her mom and later with her sister, Peggy, and friend, Alice Brenner.
Joan was an active member of Hopkins Community Church.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Bill: daughters Terri Coffindaffer of Hopkins, Renee and Mike Gorman of Holland, and Patty and Todd McNeill of Caledonia; grandchildren Dustin Coffindaffer, Abbey (Nathan) Price, Emily (Matthew) Pyle, Casey McNeill, Tommy McNeill, Sammy McNeill, and Eliza McNeill; great grandchildren Hadessah and Solomon Price; sisters Marg (Ike) Smith, Kay (Richard) Petersen, and Denise Thompson; brother in law Russ Pogodzinski, and sister in law Janice DeVries.
She was preceded in death by her parents, parents in law Willis and Florence Riksen; siblings Peggy (Pete) Arnsman, Jerry (Judy) Thompson, Hannah Pogodzinski, Junior Thompson; sister in law Kay (Gordie) Raymond and son in law Tom Coffindaffer.
Visitation will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at Hopkins Community Church, 2142 128th Ave, with a celebration of life service at 11:30 a.m. A lunch with a time of fellowship will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hopkins Community Church or Faith Hospice, 8214 Pfeiffer Farms Dr SW, Byron Center.
