Janet Eileen (Treichel) Van Boxtel

Janet E. (Treichel) Van Boxtel, age 84, passed away peacefully in her home in Appleton, Wisconsin on February 18, 2024. She was surrounded by family and friends during her final days until she ran into the open arms of Jesus. Her 17-month battle with cancer took its toll on her body but she fought hard to try to conquer her sickness. She was an inspiration to all of us in so many ways and she always had to make sure we were ok even though she was the one battling for her life.

Janet was born on June 28, 1939 in Kimberly, Wisconsin to Benjamin and Leona Treichel. She attended school in Kimberly and in junior high she met the love of her life, Gerald H. Van Boxtel.  She lost her parents at a young age and as soon as she completed high school in 1957 she married Gerald on August 21, 1958. They spent the next 20 years living an Air Force life and mom embraced her role to support her husband. During their 20 years of service, they lived in many places: Maine, New Hampshire, California, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Jersey. After their Air Force retirement, they returned to their home state of Wisconsin. In 1964 they adopted their son Brent and in 1966 they adopted their daughter Danette. In 1968 mom gave birth to their son Clinton but sadly he passed away shortly after his birth. Her family was her whole life and she made many sacrifices to ensure the happiness of her husband and children.

Janet had many hobbies and talents that kept her busy and happy. She loved to bowl, cross-stitch, play piano, read books, play board games/cards, and sing in church choirs. She loved the Brewers and the Packers and always looked forward to watching the games on TV. She was happiest surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild. She also loved to sit and have a beer with her family and friends. Janet spent many years volunteering at the Air Force Family Services and various church functions. She also spent a short time as a doctor’s personal secretary at a prison in California. She taught herself shorthand and took shorthand notation at parole hearings for an average of 12 offenders at a time. She had such an amazing talent in the art of shorthand. She finished her working career at Secura Insurance Company in Appleton where she was a lead supervisor.

Janet leaves behind her husband: Gerald Van Boxtel; her daughter, Danette (Scott) Ploughman; her grandson, Dakota Van Boxtel; her granddaughter, Samantha Ploughman; her grandson, David Ploughman; her great-granddaughter, Ella White; and her brother, Ronald Treichel. She is further survived by many loving nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Leona Treichel; her son, Clinton Lee Van Boxtel; her son, Brent F. Van Boxtel; her sisters: Ruth, Phyllis, Dorothy, Virginia, and Nancy; and her brothers: Robert and Carl.

A service of remembrance for Janet will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home, 101 Canal St., Little Chute. Visitation will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home and will continue until the time of the service. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com.

The family would like to thank Janet's hospice care team of nurses who provided Janet and her family with so much love and compassion during the past 3 months.