Janice Mae Nettekoven (née Kempen), age 87, passed away Thursday, January 2, 2025, with family by her side.  She was born June 29, 1937, to the late Peter and Marie (Coenen) Kempen, in the Town of Buchanan.  She was united in marriage to the love of her life, Ervin Nettekoven, on July 16, 1957, and together, they raised 7 children in Hollandtown.  She and Erv later retired to a house on Lake Winneconne.  Though she primarily stayed at home to raise their children, Jan was also a school bus driver for a time, and was particularly proud of her accomplishment of being the first female to win the Wisconsin Bus Roadeo and went on to compete in the nationals.  Janice was devout in her Catholic faith; she was a longtime member of St. Francis Hollandtown (St Katharine Drexel Parish) and, later, St. Mary in Winneconne.  She served the Church and lived her faith actively throughout her lifetime, and was particularly fond of singing in the choir.  Jan loved to stay busy and had many talents, including painting landscapes, cooking/baking, sewing, crafting, and gardening/landscaping. When her children were younger, she employed these talents within 4-H, where she served as the Hollandtown club leader for many years. She cared deeply for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and enjoyed time spent with them.  She loved to talk to strangers and friends alike, and was always a welcoming spirit.  She will be loved and missed incredibly by so many.

Jan is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Ervin, and their children: Nancy (Chris) Czarnik, David (Jill) Nettekoven, Michael (Angelica) Nettekoven, Lou Nettekoven (David Twaroski), Karen (James) Zarembka, Timothy Nettekoven, and Sheryl (Anthony) Adderley.  She is further survived by 18 grandchildren: Michelle Olson, Matthew Olson, Megan (Ryan) Steinberg, Laura (Timothy) Verhagen, Stephan Nettekoven, Phillip Nettekoven, Amelie Twaroski, Anya Twaroski, Zekiah Nettekoven, Genesis Besheer, Eli Nettekoven, Avalon Nettekoven, Naomi Nettekoven, Salah Nettekoven, Evan Delain, Jackson Delain, Emeline Adderley, and Jacob Adderley, as well as five great-grandchildren.  She is further survived by her brother, Harold “Hal” Kempen; sisters, Laverne Wiegert and Arlene Bruecker; sisters-in-law, Sue (Paul) Datta and Marilyn Nettekoven; and brothers-in-law, James (Donna) Nettekoven and Eugene Nett; along with many other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, Jan was preceded in death by stepmother, Mary Kempen; as well as siblings, Marion Kempen, Gerald (Geri) Kempen, Marvin (Lucille) Kempen, Boniface (Ann) Kempen, Paul Kempen, Richard Kempen, and Lorna (Wilfred) VanHandel.  She was further preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Anna Nettekoven; brothers-in-law, Roger Bruecker, David Wiegert, John (Shirley) Nettekoven, Jerome (La Verna, Wilma, Dorothy) Nettekoven, Alois (Shirley) Nettekoven, Earl (Geneva) Nettekoven; and sisters-in-law, Frances Kempen, Elizabeth (Edmund) Buchinger, Dorothy (Gilbert) Schroeder, and Constance Nett. In addition, her grandson, Christopher Olson, preceded her in death.

A funeral Mass for Janice will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 210 Pleasant Drive, Winneconne WI.  Visitation will begin at the church at 9:00 a.m. and will continue until the time of the Mass. 

Mueller Funeral Home- Winneconne is assisting the family. For online condolences/memories, please visit muellerfh.net.

In lieu of flowers, donations will be distributed according to family wishes.

The family would like to extend the deepest gratitude to the staff of ThedaCare/Cherry Meadows Hospice teams and Club Gabriel at St. Paul Elder Services for the compassionate care and support they provided.