Janice Joy (Reisetter) WILLIM

REISETTER, KLEMENT, WILLIM

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/20/2006 at 16:05:44

Janice Joy Willim, 65, of Clear Lake, formerly of Clarion, died September 6, 2003 at her home. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on August 5, 2003. Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 10 at the First United Methodist Church in Clarion. Rev. Mark Young, of the Clear Lake Christian Church, officiated at the 11 a.m. service. Interment was in Willim Terrace at Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Janice Joy Reisetter was born in Hampton on New Year’s Day 1938, the daughter of Jay T. and Albie Klement Reisetter. The family moved to Marshalltown when Jan was an infant where her father established Mid-West Machine and Welding Company. Raised in Marshalltown, she was baptized and confirmed at Elim Lutheran Church and graduated from high school with the class of 1955. Following high school, she attended the Paris Academy in Cedar Rapids and Iowa Sate University in Ames. As an expert and talented cosmetologist, Jan taught at the Paris Academy and sponsored hairstyling and training seminars in Iowa and surrounding states. Jan then returned to Marshalltown where she and Gerald Rash established a cosmetology school. While residing in Cedar Rapids, Jan was chosen Miss Cedar Rapids and the following year she represented Marshalltown and was selected First Runner-up in the Miss Iowa pageant. On November 28, 1962, Janice was united in marriage with Lee D. Willim at Elim Lutheran Church in Marshalltown. They resided in Marshalltown until purchasing the funeral homes in Dows and Latimer in 1968. They later owned and operated funeral businesses in Belmond, Klemme, Clarion and Eagle Grove. In 1977 they moved to Clarion and operated the funeral homes until selling them in 1997. In 1998 the Willims left Clarion, spending their time between their homes at Clear Lake and Fort Myers Beach, Florida. In addition to assisting her husband in the funeral businesses, Jan was a member of First Lutheran Church in Clarion and was active in community affairs, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Federated Women and the Republican Women. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, entertaining and traveling both here and abroad.

Jan is survived by her husband, Lee D. Willim of Clear Lake; four sons, Bartley J. Willim and wife, Tonya of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota; Eric D. T. Willim and fiancee, Becky of Clarion; Adam W. Willim of Cincinnati, Ohio; Matthew D. Willim of South Attleboro, Massachusetts; seven grandchildren; one sister, Joyce M. Reisetter of Phoenix, Arizona; one brother, Leo W. Reisetter of Marshalltown; mother-in-law, Lova Willim Smith of Clarion; and other relatives and friends. Jan was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Leon D. Reisetter.

September 11, 2003
© Wright County Monitor 2003