Janice M "Jan" Miller

Sherwood WI

Janice “Jan” Miller fought the good fight for ten years against breast cancer, then months ago was stricken with a brain tumor. Rather than being faced with chemo and radiation, her option was to put her fate in the hands of the Lord. Being an RN by profession and having spent ten years at St. Elizabeth administering chemo, she knew seeking treatment would only prolong the inevitable. 

Jan was born September 21, 1947, the third daughter of Henry and Marie Woelfel. Jan attended St. Mary grade school and graduated in 1965 from Chilton High School. While being involved in numerous activities throughout her high school years, her singing and acting landed her as the female lead in a little known musical called, “So This Is Paris.” It was because of this theater production that she met her future husband, Bob Miller. This began a lifelong relationship that lasted the following 58 years. 

Jan and Bob were married in 1968. Shortly after the wedding, Bob was stationed at the new Recruit Training Command in Orlando, Florida. Thus began the adventure of a lifetime for Bob and Jan, as she traveled with him and their first born to Florida. With barely “two nickels” to rub together, and both being 20 years of age, Jan and Bob made the most of the next two years of active naval duty, then returned to Wisconsin. By then Jan was the mother of two, and Bob began driving semi for Schneider Transport. After two more children, Jan returned to nursing school and became an RN. After 10 years of driving over the road, Bob decided to start his own trucking company. After it started growing, Jan decided to give up her nursing career to join Bob at their New Holstein terminal. Jan was responsible for handling payroll for 26 employees and handling all the permitting and licensing of the company tractors and trailers. Jan and Bob were 50% owners of K&M Commercial Warehouse in New Holstein. After 35 years, Jan and Bob sold their equipment and their interest in the warehouse and retired. 

For a number of years they wintered in Florida and Arizona, and in the process met many new friends. Jan will be fondly remembered for her green thumb. Many days in Arizona and Wisconsin were spent planting and tending her flowers each year. 

Throughout her life, Jan lived by the mantra “Life is good!”  She had an amazing ability to view the positives in every situation, even in her final days.  Her legacy will be how she treated people—from the care she provided to her patients, to her employees at the business, to people she met just once.  She truly wanted people to feel special, and there was no greater example of that than her impact on her grandchildren and great-grand child.  Her most cherished days were taking them apple picking, blueberry picking, attending their concerts and sporting events, and taking them to performances at the Fox Cities PAC where she was a proud season ticket holder.  She relished in their successes and took the time to get to know and appreciate each individual quality.  She loved holidays, and it’s no doubt that her impact will be continued for generations to come.  From spending time picking out the perfect gifts, trick or treating in the neighborhood, creating egg hunts in the back yard, and sending hand-written cards for each occasion, holidays were always special.  Thanksgiving was always her favorite since she felt it was the holiday that was just “all about family.”  That family was lucky to be on the receiving end of her incredible cooking skills!
 
Jan loved to travel and was blessed to see much of the country with her husband on many road trips.  Some of her favorite trips were to see her daughter & family in Chile, at one point even noting how interesting life turns out—she never thought she’d have grandchildren in Santiago and was so fascinated by the adventure of it all!  Crossing off a top bucket list item when wine tasting in Tuscany, watching the changing of the guard in London, and attending Broadway shows in NYC were just a few of the many trips she loved.  She spent her days cheering on the green & gold and was a proud Packer owner, and loved her spring training trips to AZ to watch her beloved Brewers.  She was in awe of everything…new experiences, meeting new people, and we can still hear her voice at every turn say, “this is amazing!” Every time we see a hummingbird, beautiful flower, or stunning sunset we will think of her.  Jan was loved by many, and if she could see the true outpouring of love right now, we know she is saying, “Life is good!”
 
Jan is survived by her husband, Bob; their four daughters and their spouses: Danelle and Randy Marquardt of Neenah, their children: Jordan, Brooke, and Andre Johnson, Nicole and Derek Merkes, and Trevor; Lisa Miller and Rodrigo Cruzat of Santiago, Chile, and their children: Andres and Isabel; Bobbi Miller and Colin Wheeler of St. Paul, MN, and their daughter, Josephine; and Tina and Jay Olszewski of Menasha, and their children: Madison, Jack, and Paige. Also surviving her is a great-grandson: Mitchell Merkes. Jan is also survived by her siblings: Sister Arlene Woelfel of El Paso, TX, Carol Lagatta of Clintonville, and Herb and Joan Woelfel of Chilton; her brothers and sisters-in-law: Jim and Betty Miller of Chilton, Kathy Thomson and her friend, Gene Hirst of Laurie, MO, Pat Miller of Chilton, and Steve Miller and Linda Freitag of Chilton and Woodstock, IL, respectively. 

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Marie Woelfel; her in-laws: Clayton and Ione Miller, Andy Lagatta, Tom Miller, John and Sidonia Miller of Frisco, TX, and Sue Miller of Eau Claire.

Jan’s family would like to thank St. Paul rehabilitation, along with St. Paul Hospice for the excellent and personalized care Jan was afforded.

A celebration of life will be announced at a future date.