Janet R. Verstegen
September 29, 1947 ~ March 28, 2017 (age 69) 69 Years OldShare using:
Janet Verstegen, age 69, passed away peacefully with family by her side on March 28, 2017 at St. Paul Villa in Kaukauna after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Janet was born in Little Chute on September 29, 1947 to Ernie and Ann Verstegen who preceded her in death in 2001.
Janet is survived by her daughter, Vanessa Mills (fiancé Brent Vanden Heuvel); granddaughter, Michelle Mills; brother, Gary (Lois) Verstegen; and sisters: Annie Schaefer and Ellen Verstegen (partner Tommy Winch). Janet was ‘Grams’ to Brent’s children Jordan and Danielle (fiancé Brian Greengrass) and granddaughters Cassandra and Margaret. Janet’s nieces and nephews include Sara Neiling (Jim), Jason Verstegen (Nikki), Brea Adams (Aly Weier) and great nephews and nieces Boone and Brock Verstegen and Ryan and Ana Neiling.
Janet graduated from St. John High School in Little Chute. Janet earned her Bachelor’s Degree from UW Oshkosh and Associate’s Degree in Interior Design from Fox Valley Technical College.
Janet was a devoted city planner in Hillsborough, North Carolina and Appleton, retiring in 2003. Janet was then a Little Chute Trustee for many years, overseeing the Little Chute Beautification project, founding the Little Chute Garden Club, and numerous other projects. In 2011 Janet moved to Las Vegas to live with Annie and loved visiting Vanessa’s cottage in Mountain and Ellen’s log home in Chilton. Janet enjoyed gardening, reading, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, Las Vegas shows, the Packers and the Tarheels. Janet had many friends all over the country including her former spouses Ed Van Handel and Bobby Rigsbee.
Visitation will be on Thursday, March 30, 2017, at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, 323 S. Pine Street, Little Chute, from 3:30 p.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at 5:00 p.m. After, join Janet’s family at the Fifth Quarter in Little Chute to celebrate her life with music by Tommy Winch and light hors d’oeuvres.
All donations will go towards a memorial to beautify Little Chute. Per Janet’s wishes, she will be cremated. The Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home has assisted the family.
Janet and her family would like to thank the caregivers at St. Paul Villa for their kindness, and Janet’s friends for all the love they showed in her final months.
