Obit: Dittmer, Janet Rae (1939 - 2022)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Dittmer, Climer, Thompson, Burger, Whitebear, Vita

----Source: Buswell Funeral Home (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI) 4/18/2022

Dittmer, Janet Rae (28 February 1939 – 14 April 2022)

Janet Rae Dittmer, age 83 , passed away April 14, 2022.

Janet was born February 28,1939 In Monroe County, to Bertha (Climer) and Hershel Thompson and grew up living in the Black River and Dells Dam area. She graduated high school in Neillsville, in 1957, and went on to College in Pasadena, CA.

She returned to Neillsville to work at the Winnebago Indian School There she met her future husband Klaus Dittmer, from Berlin Germany. In 1964 they married in St. Paul, MN and sailed across the ocean to settle in Berlin, Germany. There she had her 3 daughters Hinu, Annie and Janie. After 3 years in Berlin the family moved to Tunisia, North Africa. Her Kunu was born there. She loved living in Tunisia. She said the Arabic families were so much like the Ho-Chunk relatives she missed. After 3 years in Tunisia the family moved back to Berlin where her son Raoul was born. She spent 43 years living in Berlin. Janet spoke 5 languages, Ho-Chunk, English, German, French, and Arabic. 18 years ago she moved back to Black River Falls. She loved coming back home and enjoyed reconnecting with her family and friends. She eventually got to build her home on her mother’s homestead.

She is survived by her sons, Gerald (Barbara Burger) Dittmer, Raoul (Luhui WhiteBear) Dittmer; daughters, Laurie (Andi) Vita, Anne Dittmer, and Janie Dittmer; grandchildren, Arusha, Kunu, Naomi, Lina, Tomah, Bea, Nestor, Robyn, Byron, and Nahvia; and great-grandchildren, Tlaloc, Koa, Asa, Keech-Kia, Yahya, and Zekeria.

Janet is preceded in death by her parents, Herchel and Bertha; brothers, Jeff, Wayne, and John; sisters, Carolyn and Gloria; cousins, and many other extended Ho-Chunk relatives.

Funeral services for Janet will be Sunday April 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at the Dells Dam Community Center. Burial at 12:00 p.m. at the Dells Dam Cemetery will immediately follow.

The Buswell Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements, 106 S. 2nd St. Black River Falls, WI (715-284-4321).