Janis Joseph, age 85, of Eau Claire, left this world peacefully on July 19, 2013, with family at her side at the Syverson Lutheran Home. Janis was born in St. Paul, MN, on May 14, 1928, the only daughter of David and Mavis Bystrom. She grew up on the Swedish East Side of St. Paul in a household full of love and laughter and surrounded by her parents, her grandmother, Anna Olson, and her cousins, Virgie Hoelscher and Wayne Bergfalk. She graduated from Johnson High School in St. Paul in 1946. Between 1946 and 1948, she worked with retirees in the Great Northern Railroad Corporate Office in downtown St. Paul and this is where she met her future husband, Lowell Joseph. On June 19, 1948, Janis married Lowell at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in St. Paul. Janis worked for Republic Steel, in downtown St. Paul, as a clerical worker until 1951, when her daughter, Louree was born. Her son, Doug was born in 1954. In 1957, Jan and Lowell moved their family to Eau Claire and built their new home in Putnam Heights. Janis was the owner and operator of Lee's Uniform Center from 1962 through 1987, when she retired from the business. Janis and Lowell recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Throughout her wonderful life, Janis extensively traveled the four corners of this great earth with her husband and friends. She relished her winter months spent with family and friends in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. But most of all, Janis loved her summer times spent at her cabin on Shell Lake over the past forty six years. She always had a schedule packed full of fun things planned for the future and she was a very gifted artist. Above all else, she will be remembered by all that knew her for her love of God and family, her beautiful and continuous laugh and her zest for all things fun. Janis was a lifetime member of the "Mars Club", a group of her high school girlfriends that have continued to gather monthly since their high school days. She has also been an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church since 1957. Janis is survived by her husband, Lowell; her two children, Louree (Lou) Kelsey of Eau Claire and Doug Joseph of Eleva; four grandchildren, Angela (Bob) Foy of Eau Claire, Joshua Joseph of Eau Claire, Heidi (Shea) Murphy of St. Paul and Jessica Ripp of Seattle, Washington; and five great-grandchildren, Joseph Foy, Payton Foy, Wyatt Foy, Shea Murphy and Griffin Murphy; and one step great-grandson, Robert Foy. She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant son, David; and son-in-law, Jeff Kelsey. Our family would like to express our appreciation for the loving and compassionate care that was given to our wife and mother by the remarkable staff at "Grace's Garden" of the Syverson Lutheran Home in Eau Claire. You are God's blessed angels of mercy in this world and you made Janis' world such a beautiful place. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 10:00 on Monday, July 29, 2013, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1314 E. Lexington Blvd., Eau Claire, WI. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 officiated by Pastor Jim Page. A luncheon will follow the service. A private family burial will take place following the luncheon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the charity of your choice in Janis' name or the family will chose an appropriate charity after the service. Madre, Vaya Con Dios.

Service Information

Cemetery

Lakeview Cemetery 1500 Buffington Drive Eau Claire WI 54703

Visitation

Monday, July 29 2013 10:00 AM

Trinity Lutheran Church 1314 E. Lexington Blvd. Eau Claire WI 54701

Funeral Service

Monday, July 29 2013 11:00 AM

Trinity Lutheran Church 1314 E. Lexington Blvd. Eau Claire WI 54701