Four days after celebrating her 98th birthday surrounded by the people she loved the most, Janice Johnson passed away.
Janice began her life on Sept. 3, 1925 in Herman, Neb., born to Thorvald and Julie Petersen. She was married to Robert K. Johnson, whose death preceded hers by about 13 years. Janice lived in service to others, and did so quietly and humbly. Hers was a full life.
Born in a time when education was not prioritized for women, Janice bucked that tradition. While still in high school she took correspondence courses for education. Following her high school graduation, she attended college, and ultimately received a three-year teaching certificate.
At the sprite age of 16, she began her first year of teaching. Eventually she transitioned from education for a career in insurance. It was through her insurance career that she met Robert (“Bob”). The young woman whom she replaced asked if she might be willing to go on a blind date with her brother-in-law. It was love at first sight.
Janice and Bob were married. They had a single child, John. When Janice and Bob retired they decided to move closer to John and his family in Arizona. After sampling different parts of two Jan and Bob settled in east Mesa at Sunland Village East. Jan and Bob met many life-long friends in the community that would become their home.
Son John, and his wife Julie, would go on to have two boys – Erik and Richard. Jan and Bob were regular participants in their grandsons’ lives – attending sporting events, taking them fishing, golfing and often babysitting when John and Julie needed a weekend to themselves.
Eventually Janice would trade grandsons for great-granddaughters, three (3) to be specific – Leah (10), Kate (7) and Hannah (7). The great-granddaughters knew her as GiGi. Their entry into Jan’s life in her late 80’s seemed to invigorate her. No matter how Jan was feeling, a few quick kisses from her granddaughters would put a smile to her lips. In turn Leah, Kate and Hannah treasured their special relationship with GiGi.
Jan is also survived by her brother Richard Petersen and his wife MaryLou, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews – all of whom care for her and love her. Jan was a special person who went out of her way to help her friends, neighbors, loved-ones and even shut-ins and homeless people who likely never knew her name.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of the Valley – hov.org or St. Matthew United Methodist Church – stmatthewmesa.org.
