Janet Abbott

Janet A. Abbott, age 92, passed away on Friday, December 5, 2025, at Aspirus Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday at the Church. Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025, at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Janet was born on October 23,1933, in Colby to Justus and Isabelle (Kops) Johnson. She lived there until the time of her parents’ early deaths. She then moved to Plainfield to live with her cousins Vera and Adrien Hentges. She was a graduate of Tri-County High School and this was where she met the love of her life Dean Abbott.

They were married on January 14, 1953 in Dubuque, Iowa. They were blessed with 48 years of marriage until his death in 2000. Her love of him was unconditional and she loved him until the day she died.

In her early years she worked at Nekoosa Papers until Dean returned from his military service. She then began her most cherished role as that of a homemaker-caring for and raising her family of four. After they were all raised, she worked at American Potato and Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture. Then she began her favorite role as grandmother to her "Grands" and "Greats". She found deep joy in spending time with them and treasured the years she spent babysitting them all. Her family was truly her heart: she loved them dearly and passed on to all of them to start each day with a positive spirit.

Janet was known for her famous refrigerator cookies and for always keeping her cookie jar full. She was an avid Keno player and she and Dean spent many years going to the "Playground" where she earned the name "Jackpot Janet". She also never missed buying her weekly lottery tickets and it was on her bucket list to win the lottery. (Who knows she still might) She loved camping, fishing and listening to waltzes and polkas. A Friday fish fry and a good Old Fashion were among her favorite traditions.

Here faith was an important part of her life, and she was a proud, lifelong member of the Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church.

Janet is survived by her children: Michael (Karen) Abbott and Mark (Jill) Abbott of Wis. Rapids, Kay (Joe) Shearier and Lisa (Dennis) Anderson of Nekoosa.: Grandchildren: Angela (Craig) Peters, Kelly (Tony) Olinyk. Brandon (Cori) Abbott, Ashley (Aaric Mullins) Abbott Quam, Matthew (Jessica) Abbott, Jenelle (Brian) Pietz, Adam (Becca Borre) Shearier, Jessie (Danielle) Shearier, Ryan Shearier, Hallie (Steve Guse) Anderson, Morgan (Brady Kunsman) Anderson. Great -grandchildren: Ethan, Connor and Braeden Peters. Blake (Lydia) Wipperfurth and Lexi Wipperfurth, Erich Dean, Annalise and Cole Carter, Brynna (Tyler) Schudy, Leighton and Cashton Quam, Quinten, Madilynn, Emma and Paige Abbott, Hunter and Grace Abbott, Madyson Shearier/Olsen, Kinzie Olinyk, and Gustav Guse; sister, Pat Kilty; and sister-in-law, Donna Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Dean, her parents, Brothers: Lyle (Delores) Johnson, and Robert Johnson, SIster: Lillian (Paul) Arendt, Brothers-in-laws: Jim Abbott, Norman (Lorraine) Abbott, Dale (Fran) Abbott, Glenn (Marie) Abbott, Dick Kilty, Sister-in-laws: Jeanette (Bob) Hughes and Bonnie (George) Gear and her infant brother Marvin.

Herman-Taylor Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.