Joan Mary Janis

Joan Mary Janis, age 83, died July 17, 2024, at Eagle Crest South after a courageous battle with cancer.  Joan was a caring wife, loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to many.

Joan was born on December 24th, 1940, in Chicago to Robert and Julia English.  After graduating high school, she went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, Minnesota.

Joan met her husband, John “Jack” Janis, while a student nurse at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She and Jack wed in 1962 and went on to have three children together, Ramona, John whom she lovingly referred to as “My John”, and Brendan.

Joan had a curious mind and was especially drawn to Great Books, English Literature and Poetry. This passion for higher learning prompted her later in life to complete a Master’s Degree in English Literature from Viterbo College in La Crosse. One of her favorite authors was Flannery O’Conner.

When not reading books, Joan also enjoyed cooking.  A weeknight dinner could easily consist of a leg of lamb with mint jelly or sauteed morel mushrooms found in the woods behind her house.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, and her son, John.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Ramona, and her husband Matt and their children Peter and Kathrine; her son, Brendan, and his wife Gisela; and her brother Patrick “PJ” English and his wife Kay and their daughters, Colleen and Bridget.

Joan had many friends through the years, including the Merry Widows, the Church Ladies, Book Club, and her Eagle Crest Friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, July 25, 2024 at Mary Mother of the Church, ­­­­­­­­­­­­2006 Weston St., La Crosse. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM at the church. Burial will immediately follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s memory to Mary, Mother of the Church, her parish, or to Aptiv, Inc., a local organization which provides services for people like “Her John” who had Down Syndrome.

Thank you to the staff at Eagle Crest South and Gundersen Hospice who provided wonderful care for Joan this past year. Joan will be missed, and never forgotten.