Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.

✓ Convenient home delivery ✓ Unlimited website access 24/7 ✓ Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 ✓ The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more!

Get the Oceana Herald Journal delivered straight to your door and receive unlimited access to our website and e-Edition when you purchase a Print + Digital Subscription.

✓ Unlimited website access 24/7 ✓ Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 ✓ The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime.

As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need the phone number associated with your print subscription account.

Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.

Promotional Rates were found for your code.

Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Welcome! We hope that you enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in or create an account to continue reading.

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.

Thank you for signing in! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Checking back? Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again.

Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 76F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Chance of an isolated thunderstorm in the evening, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.

Judy Kokx comes from a family who always loved helping people, and she is certainly carrying on that tradition. “My parents took in kids who were troubled,” she says. “We could have 14 kids at the house at one time. They just loved helping people. I remember us going out in a snowstorm to get a neighbor firewood when they ran out. We were always lending a helping hand to any and everybody, and watching my dad help people inspired that kind of service for me.”

She also remembers when others helped her family. Someone stole and slaughtered the family’s pigs, their meat for the winter, and neighbors got together and bought a half beef for them. “I saw what that did for us, and recognized that there were others who need help out there too,” Kokx recounts.

With this background of giving to others, Kokx got involved with the Crystal Valley Care Fund and is a long-time member, having served for most of its years in operation, and now for seven years as its president. The non-profit organization was established in 1992, is run strictly by volunteers, and continues to grow every year. According to its website, “The money raised enables the Crystal Valley Care fund to help numerous families in Oceana County whose lives have been disrupted due to life-threatening illness or fire.”

The care fund holds various events to raise money for people who have difficulties in their lives. When someone has cancer or a broken bone and is the sole support of their family, the fund helps them with groceries and paying bills. “We also have a relationship with the fire chief,” Kokx explains. “When a fire occurs, we get help out to the people who are burned out of their home. We just want everyone to know that we care.”

Kokx emphasizes the purpose of the Care Fund in keeping money local. Early on, the group was very involved with the Cancer Society and didn’t realize that a lot of the money didn’t stay in Oceana County, so when the local money ran out, there was no help. She started fundraising at the Crystal Valley Tavern, where she was a part-time bartender, and the efforts spiraled from there. Now all funds go only to people in need in Oceana County.

Fundraising events are many and varied and they are supported by local sponsoring businesses. “When people thank me for what we do, I say, ‘Thank your neighbor,” Kokx says. “’They’re the ones who donate the money.’” So, for example, the Care Fund has a yard sale coming up July 29-30 at the Kokx’s home, 7257 N. 120th in Crystal Valley. For the last six years, Ace Hardware has donated two pallets of merchandise for the sale. Past yard sales have raised up to $7,000 for good use in the local communities.

There will also be a golf outing on Sept. 17, at Benona Golf Course at Stony Lake. At this event, and at the spring outing at the Oceana Golf Course, local businesses sponsor holes and prizes and are recognized for their support. Volunteers also participate in the Homecoming Parade in August, throwing out candy along the parade route to get the name of Crystal Valley Care Fund out in the community. And on July 3, the fund received $24,000 raised through the 5K Sparkler run.

In addition to her work with the care fund, Kokx is also active in her local church, Crystal Valley United Methodist Church. Recently, she organized a bake sale as a fundraiser for Harbor House in Hart to support stable housing and positive relationships and build hope for the future of young women. In two hours, the bake, soup and sandwich sale raised $500 from sales of donated food. She also serves as a liturgist and does the bulletin, while her husband, John, is a trustee and mows the lawn.

Growing up in Crystal Valley, where she has lived her entire life, Kokx had five siblings. Her father, Merton, now deceased, was a woodworker employed by Malburg Forest Products and ran the chainsaw. Her mother, Marilyn, worked the night shift at various canning factories around the area and then worked at Hansen Foods in Hart. Her siblings, Cindy, Merton Jr., Dawn (Riley), Bruce and Mark all still live in the general area, three of them in Crystal Valley.

Kokx graduated from Hart High School in 1981, and reports that she was not involved in school activities because, even from a young age, she always worked, doing yard work for neighbors or babysitting. When she married John in 1982, he worked at a canning factory while she picked asparagus and other crops while their children, Karen and John Jr., were in school. Later she worked as a full-time office manager for Bouwkamp Trucking for 15 years and also at the school.

When the children were growing up, Kokx and her husband played ball, and the family was always at the ballparks. They also camped at Pebawma in Walkerville, where John’s family had camped for 50 years, and the Kokx family has now carried on the family tradition of camping there over the 4th of July for another 45 years.

These days, Karen lives in Kalamazoo, while John Jr. lives next door to his parents in Crystal Valley. Both have three children, and Judy and John are active in the lives of their grandchildren. One of their grandsons is involved in demo derbys, and they go to his events, and now the great-grandchildren are in sports and they go to watch their games. They have seven grandchildren, the oldest of which is 28, and now six great-grandchildren, ages from 1 to 6 years old. When her son and his wife had trouble finding someone they trusted to watch their kids during Covid, Judy and John helped out when they could.

In addition, Kokx has a huge garden and sells tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables on the side of the road. The children, grandchildren, and now the great-grandchildren have been involved, and some of Kokx’s favorite family photos are of them sitting and eating a tomato in the garden. “Family is a big thing for me,” Kokx continues. “I love the outdoors and getting my own vegetables, and I love to be with my family, spending time cooking, canning tomatoes, corn, applesauce and other things; anything to save them some pennies.”

As Kokx carries on her work helping people, she emphasizes, “I’m a simple person. I don’t like shopping or such things. I’m a people person, and I try to treat people as I would want to be treated. I try not to judge. I don’t know what goes on behind your closed door, but if you need help, I’ll try to help in any way I can.”

Then, she adds with a laugh, “I don’t do the heavy lifting, but I do a lot of ‘mouth work.’ I’m always talking to people. And I always say, ‘If you haven’t donated, come to one of our events!’ I’m all about ‘Local’ – getting help for people in Oceana County.”

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.