Janice Lee Koepke's Obituary
Mount Pleasant - Janice Lee Koepke, 63, passed away on Sunday, November 27, 2022, at her residence.
Jan was born to the late Robert and Emolyn (Anderson) Wendtorf on July 20, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois. She spent many childhood summers in Ogema, WI, and lived most of her life in Racine, WI. Jan worked at Butter Buds Food Ingredients for over 20 years, ultimately holding the title of Senior Director of Sales, Marketing, and Administration.
Jan will be deeply missed by her loving children: Ericka (Sarah) Koepke, Mequon, WI; Donald (Brandon Ahler) Koepke, Dubuque, IA; Amy Koepke, Racine, WI; and Abby (Chris Karnowski) Koepke, Racine, WI; grandchildren: Christian Karnowski and Victoria Johnston; brother, Robert (Jean) Wendtorf and family; dearest friends: the Kennedy family, Don and Charlotte Gottschalk; companion, David Templeton; beloved dog, Charlie; along with many other relatives, friends, and colleagues.
Jan loved her family and was the happiest when she was spending time with them, including some of her best memories from summers in northern Wisconsin. Her hobbies included gardening and birdwatching, and she was proud of her Wildlife Habitat Certified Garden. Jan loved nature and being outdoors. She was especially fond of wildflowers (brown eyes susans), dragonflies, and hummingbirds. Jan routinely enjoyed a morning cup of coffee in her robe with her dog, Charlie, in her lap.
Jan was incredibly warm, kind, and generous, and anyone who knew her knew that her door was always open. She was an amazing cook and could bring her loved ones together for wonderful meals and goofy conversations which made her home feel joyful and welcoming. She worked hard her whole life to be in a position where she could give to others. Most of all, Jan was proud of being a mother who raised four children, and of achieving her career at Butter Buds.
A celebration of Janice’s life will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 1:00 P.M. Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation at the funeral home on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Daniel Koepke and Larry Cook, Officer Padilla from Mount Pleasant Police Department, and Mark from the Racine County Medical Examiner’s office for their assistance.
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