Janice E. Janssen

Janice E. Janssen, age 86 of Lake Mills, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at her home in Lake Mills.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 21, 2025 at Schott Funeral Homes-Mittelstadt Chapel, 902 E. Main St. in Lake Mills with Pastor Bill Peters officiating. Burial will follow in the Salem Memorial Cemetery, rural Lake Mills.

Visitation for Janice will be on Sunday, July 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Schott Funeral Homes-Mittelstadt Chapel, and will continue at 10:00 AM the following day.

Schott Funeral Homes in Lake Mills is assisting the Janssen family with arrangements.

Janice Eileen (Stokesbary) Janssen was born on March 14, 1939 in Klemme, Iowa to parents Orville and Nova (Koerner) Stokesbary. She attended and graduated from Klemme High School with the Class of 1957, and went on to attend vocational school at Hamilton Business College in Mason City. She worked at Bowen’s while living in Mason City where she met her future husband. 

On September 8, 1963 Janice was united in marriage with Marvin Wayne Janssen at the United Methodist Church in Klemme, Iowa, and they were blessed with two daughters: Jill and Jodi. They made their home in Mason City, Northwood, and Garner, Iowa, prior to moving to Lake Mills in the early 2000’s. Marvin owned and operated North Iowa Builders and later Gelner-Janssen Mix Mill while Janice was primarily a homemaker.

Janice loved to camp-annually at Kiesler’s in Waseca, MN for years, she and Marvin enjoyed traveling, and she kept busy with handiwork such as fabric painting, puzzles and word-finds. Janice will be most remembered for being an amazing mother and for the love and support she showed to her grandchildren. She was their biggest fan during sporting events, a substitute scout leader when necessary, and a willing babysitter when the kids were little.

Survivors include her two daughters, Jill (Todd) Thorson of Lake Mills, and Jodi (Jason) Cagle of Plano, TX; four grandchildren: Makenzie (Dawson) Van Ryswyk of Plymouth, MN, Dalton Thorson of Lake Mills, Connor Cagle of St. Petersburg FL, and Colton Cagle of Plano , TX; a brother Jerry Stokesbary of Mason City, IA; sister Julie (William) Renner of Ankeny, IA; former sister-in-law and special friend Judy Reyerson of Mason City, IA; and many nieces, nephews and extended relatives.

Janice was preceded in death by her husband Marvin in 2011, her parents Orville Stokesbary, Nova (Stokesbary) Gelner & Leon Gelner; a sister-in-law Sharon Stokesbary; her parents-in-law Ralph and Fannie Janssen; brothers-in-law Gary and David Janssen; and nephew Rory Janssen.