Gladys Ann Smit Hoek passed away peacefully at home on February 27, 2023
at the age of 85. Born Gladys Ann Smit to Henry and Anna Smit in Ripon, California,
she was the youngest of four children with three older brothers. Her father died in1945 and two months later her oldest brother, John Smit, was killed in Okinawa
during WWII. Her mother remarried John Danhof from Manhattan, MT in 1948 where they lived for several years before moving back to Ripon.
When the family returned to Ripon, she met Dirk Hoek who became the love of her life. After marrying in 1957, they moved to Sacramento where Gladys worked for Pacific Bell Co. while Dirk attended Sacramento State College. Their two sons were born there in 1960 and 1962. In 1963 they moved to Modesto where Dirk worked as a real estate appraiser. Gladys worked as a legal assistant for several Modesto attorneys in the probate field until her retirement.
Gladys and Dirk enjoyed traveling the world. When their boys were young,
camping in Yosemite with the Fondse family was a favorite vacation. Through the years Gladys and Dirk enjoyed many adventures across the US and throughout Europe and Canada. Travel often included friends and family and all were diligently planned by Gladys, including recent family gatherings in Estes Park and at Asilomar.
Gladys enjoyed volunteering for a number of organizations throughout the years and one of her favorites was working with the residents at Bethany Home in their ceramics program for over 25 years.
Gladys was predeceased by two brothers, John Smit and Clarence Smit.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Dirk Hoek; her sons Dr. Allen Hoek (Robin) of Ripon, CA, and Jeff Hoek (Rosie Fraser) of San Francisco, CA; grandchildren, Thomas Hoek (Mallory) of Grand Rapids, MI, Karen Hoek, Kaitlyn
Meredith of Evansville, IN, Jenna Hoek of Grand Rapids, MI, and Ryan Hoek (Tatiana) of Hayward, CA; great grandchildren Brooke, David, and Bryce; her brother, Leon Smit; and a number of loving cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at the Modesto Christian Reformed Church at 2620 College Ave, Modesto CA 95303 on March 18 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her name to Center for Human Services at 2000 W Briggsmore Ave., Modesto, CA 95350 or Calvin
University John M. Perkins Leadership Fellows at Calvin University Development Office, 3201 Burton SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546-4388. These are two programs which Gladys strongly supported and matched the vision which she embraced.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Saturday, March 11, 2023
