Janice Ward

WHITEWATER – Janice Ward, 90, formerly of rural Fort Atkinson, passed to life eternal on May 5 following a short illness. She was the wind beneath the wings of her husband and children, allowing them to achieve so much more than they could have on their own.

Janice was born on February 22, 1924, in Lodi, Wis., the only child of Andrew and Leda (Quam) Eide. After graduating from Lodi High School in 1941, she attended the University of Wisconsin, majoring in Home Economics. She was Queen of the UW’s Little International Horse Show and a finalist in the Badger Beauty Contest. When a picture of her appeared in the military edition of Country Gentleman, she received dozens of letters from World War II servicemen who saw her as a wholesome example of the girl next door. Upon graduating from the UW in 1945, Janice taught Home Economics in Kohler, Wis. for two years.

Janice met her future husband, William W. Ward of Fort Atkinson, while at the UW, and together they were life-long supporters of the university. They were married on August 23, 1947. They lived in Madison for one year and then moved to the Ward family farm just west of Fort Atkinson where she lived for the next 62 years.

For 30 of those years she devoted her life to raising her four children. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years at the First United Methodist Church in Fort Atkinson, and she was a knitting leader for the Clever Clovers 4-H Club. She supported various parent organizations at school, including PTA and Band Boosters. She chauffeured her children to music lessons, 4-H meetings and sporting events. And she always found time to keep the cookie jar full and to play her favorite songs on the piano.

On the farm, she served as the bookkeeper, go-fer and gardener. Through the years she graciously housed and fed dozens of young people wanting work experience on a farm. She also helped host many school, national and international tours at the farm, the 1956 Wisconsin Farm Progress Days, and the 1984 Jefferson County Dairy Breakfast.

Janice belonged to several local women’s organizations including the American Association of University Women, Tuesday Club, the Oakland Ladies Aid Society and a Jefferson County Homemakers Club. She and Bill co-chaired the First United Methodist Church’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, and Janice managed the church’s Nearly New Resale Shoppe for many years.

After the children were raised, Janice learned how to braid rugs and soon taught the craft at MATC-Fort Atkinson. Janice and Bill were regular volunteers at the Hoard Museum and National Dairy Shrine; they were often asked to churn butter at Museum events. Janice also served on the United Way of Fort Atkinson board of directors.

In her later years, she enjoyed traveling with her husband, spending time at their northern Wisconsin cabin, crossword puzzles, babysitting her grandchildren and attending their concerts, plays, musicals, and sporting events.

Janice is survived by her four children: Carol Ward Knox and David (Jean) Ward of Fort Atkinson; Lori (Luke) Bocher, Evansville; and Barbara (Marc) McCrory, Janesville. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Christopher (Kim) Knox and Emily, Addison and Cameron; Benjamin (Meggan) Knox and Andy; Kevin Ward; Sarah and Andrew Bocher; and Ryan, Dan and Caitlin McCrory. A special niece, Shari Dunn of Fort Atkinson, also survives her. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13, with a lunch to follow, at the First United Methodist Church in Fort Atkinson, the Rev. Russ Frees, Jr. officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 12, at the Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Fort Atkinson, the Fairhaven Foundation Memory Care Fund, or the University of Wisconsin Foundation/William and Janice Ward Family Agricultural Enrichment Fund.

www.dunlapmemorialhome.com

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