Obit: Ciolkosz, Janet Ann #2 (1936 - 2007)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Ciolkosz, Scharenbrock, Lauer, Cesik, Koltis

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI.) October 31, 2007

Ciolkosz, Janet Ann (December 12, 1936 - October 26, 2007)

Janet A. Ciolkosz, age 70, of Thorp, passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield on Friday, October 26, 2007.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp. Fr. Keith Apfelbeck officiated and burial followed in Oakland Cemetery in Stanley.

Pallbearers were Nick Lauer, Kyle Lauer, Kurt Lauer, Dan Lauer, Bob Lauer, Jon Erickson, and Jim Lauer.

Visitation was held at Thorp Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 4:00 p.m. PCCW Rosary service and a 7:00 p.m. parish Rosary service. Visitation was also held at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

Janet Ann Lauer was born on December 12, 1936 in Stanley, WI to George Sr. and Anna (Scharenbrock) Lauer. She was raised on the family farm and received her education in the Stanley area, graduating form Stanley High School in 1954. After completing her education, Jan worked at the Farmer’s Store in Stanley and then later at Thorp Finance. She was united in marriage on September 8, 1962 to Al Ciolkosz, Jr. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Stanley. They moved to El Paso, TX, where Jan worked at the State Bank of El Paso before returning to Thorp in 1965. She went back to work at Thorp Finance for a few years before becoming the manager at First Federal Bank, which later became First Financial Bank and the Associated Bank. They later divorced. Jan later worked for Doboy in Thorp as an accountant.

She was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church and its PCCW and the Thorp American Legion Auxiliary, served on the Thorp Deanery for many years, served on the election board, worked in the Thorp School District kitchen, served meals at the senior center and was involved in the Polish Heritage for many years.

Jan had many interests but especially enjoyed crocheting afghans and lap blankets for nursing home residents, cooking, baking, listening to music from country, polkas, hymns and Stevie Ray Vaughn, flowers, gardening, dancing, playing cards and traveling to places such as Rome, Japan, Mexico, Thailand, and China.

She will be sadly missed by her daughter, Kathleen Ciolkosz of Springbrook, WI; her son, James (Kaoru) Ciolkosz of Madison; her granddaughter, Kanna; two sisters: Yvonne (Gene) Cesik of Stanley; and Diane (Edward) Koltis of Thorp; three brothers: Melvin (Mary) Lauer of Mokena, IL, Victor (Dianne) Lauer of Chippewa Falls, and Dean (Cindy) Lauer of Stanley; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends in Japan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, George Lauer, Jr; and one sister-in-law, Beatrice Lauer.