Janet M. Neitzel

Janet Marie Neitzel (Besonen), 70, of Big Rapids, Michigan, passed away July 15, 2021. Jan was supported and cared for by her loving family at her home. Jan was born at home in Trout Creek, Michigan, July 1, 1951. She was a petite, soft-spoken woman with a core of SISU inherited from her Finnish roots. She loved the colors of the Finnish flag (SISU blue and white) and celebrated that culture especially enjoying saunas.

Jan traveled both with her husband and her daughters returning to the UP and Wisconsin to often visit family. They also enjoyed trips to Ludington, Traverse City, Mackinac Island, Muskegon’s Michigan Adventure, shopping excursions to local cities, and the inland lakes, and toured all of the Great Lakes. She and Phil cruised the Mexican Riviera, and explored sites in Cancun, Hershey, Pennsylvania, the Napa Valley, and Florida.

Jan loved holidays and celebrated each with decorations, food and fun — her favorite was the Fourth of July as all the decorations were usually up in time for her birthday. A lover of music, Elvis was a favorite, but she also jammed to her daughter’s “ride tunes” as well.

Jan enjoyed shopping for bright colors, bling, and often added to her eclectic collections. She always knew “good things come in small packages.” Growing up on a farm she loved animals.

Jan graduated from L’Anse High School in 1969 and Northern Michigan University with an LPN degree in 1971. She worked as an LPN at Marquette Hospital in Marquette, Michigan, and Bentonville Hospital in Bentonville, Arkansas. Jan and her husband, Philip, were married on June 26 and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

In addition to being a mom to their two beloved daughters, Jan enjoyed working as a private home care, as a census worker, in medical record keeping for Smart Corp., and as a Walmart sales associate. Her co-workers appreciated her work ethic, warm smile, and fun sense of humor. Jan’s last days were helped by to be more comfortable with the aid of Elara Caring Hospice.

She is survived by her husband, Philip; her daughter, Katina; her brother, Donald (Nancy) Besonen; her sisters, Joan (Anthony) Haigh, Gail (David) Meinert, Pamela Besonen; sisters-in law, Joanne Besonen, Deborah (Al) Quast, Karen (Bob) Young and Mariette (Joe) Piencikowski; brothers-in-law, Kenneth (Jennifer) Neitzel, David (Barbara) Neitzel, Daniel Neitzel, John (Maxine) Kallies, and Doug (Charlene) Kallies; many uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and great nephews and nieces.

Special longtime childhood friends/relatives are Shirley Niemi Bjurstrom and Linda Rajala Holma. The family’s two dogs, Max and Gracie, and cat, Gizmo, will miss their grandma’s snuggles.

Jan was preceded in death by her infant son, Greg; daughter, Nicole; parents, Waino and Alice Besonen; in-laws, Martin and Evelyn Neitzel (Kallies) and Lawrence Kallies; brother, David Besonen; brothers-in-law, Gordon and Doug Neitzel; sister-in-law, Vicki Neitzel; and Leonard and Alice Kallies.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, with Pastor Roger Mackie officiating. Janet’s family will greet friends at the Mohnke Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, July 19, and prior to services on Tuesday at the church. Following Jan’s wishes her ashes will be placed both in the family plot at Highland View Cemetery in Big Rapids and at the Besonen Family Farm in Covington, Michigan, at dates to be determined. A luncheon with be served in the church fellowship hall following the service.

After her last battle with small cell lung cancer, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the following organizations: American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 (800-227-2345), or to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 408 W. Bellevue St., Big Rapids, MI 49307 (stpetersbr.org).

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