John R. Janis

John R. Janis passed away March 30, 2021 in Springfield, Illinois at the age of 54.  He was born on July 22, 1966, in Newport News, VA, to Dr. and Mrs. John F. Janis.

At age of 18, John left his home in La Crosse to become a resident of the St. Coletta's School in Jefferson, Wisconsin, a provider of quality residential, day/vocational programs and services for persons with developmental disabilities and other challenges inspired by the Franciscan Values of compassion, dignity and respect. Later, John moved to Brother James Court in Springfield, Illinois, a residential, intermediate care facility that is home to 98 men with developmental disabilities.  John lived at Brother James Court until his passing.

As a child and young adult, John enjoyed spending time with his family. Like the rest of John’s family, John especially loved to eat.  He didn’t just eat just one cheeseburger, but two cheeseburgers, with bacon, along with a Coca-Cola.  John especially looked forward each year to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and his Birthday in July.  For his Birthday, he delighted in feasting with his family and friends with a great big birthday cake.

John was also a big fan of the movie Grease .  Through the years, he collected numerous CDs, record albums and movie videos.  If John could leave a message to us all, it is from a refrain from the main Grease theme song, “We should start believing now that we can be who we are.... ”

John is survived by his mother, Joan, of La Crosse Wisconsin, his brother Brendan Alexander and his wife Gisella of Mexico City, his sister, Ramona Berce and her husband Matt, and their children Peter and Katherine of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in John’s memory to Brother James Court at https://www.brotherjamescourt.com/ or the National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) at https://www.nads.org/ .

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 5, 2021 in the Mary Mother of The Church parish hall. Rev. Brian Konopa will officiate. Burial will follow in Gate Of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call on the family in the parish hall on Thursday morning from 10:00 am until the time of Mass. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.schumacher-kish.com .